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with advantage would be the European wild boar, the South African river hog, the babirousse from the Eastern Islands, and others from India.
The noble cameleopards, or giraffes, could also be introduced; and so well are they now acclimatised in England that the whole of the beautiful animals now in the gardens were born and bred there. The female originally introduced gave birth to no less than seven fawns before her death in 1852.
We could also procure Polish and other varieties of rabbits and hares; and the delicate and beautiful chinchillas, all valuable for their fur; as also that interesting animal the beaver, and our opossums, flying squirrels, dasyuri or native cats, and others, have also delicate and valuable furs; and from the former some excellent and warm socks of most delicate texture have been recently manufactured. Among the bovine animals of the Malay peninsula, the sapi, or wild ox, would be a valuable acquisition. The flesh is described as delicious; and Mr. Earl observes "that calves could be obtained with very little trouble, but it would be difficult to get a full-grown animal."
The domestic ox of Bali and Lombok—a large, sleek, thin-skinned species, as graceful as the antelope—could be readily procured; as also numerous others of the same tribe, from various parts of India and the Eastern Islands, both useful and ornamental.
An acclimatisation society ought to direct their attention to the beautiful animals of Southern and Eastern Africa; inhabiting a climate similar to New South Wales, they could be readily acclimatised. Among many I may mention, more particularly among the antelopes, the springbok, the brindled gnu, the common gnu, and the leucoryx. The action of this latter animal is exceedingly beautiful, and its range extends from the Gambia to Abyssinia. As the whole of these beautiful animals have acclimatised well in Europe, there can be no doubt of success attending their introduction into this more favourable climate.
The order of ruminants among the mammalia (which includes oxen, sheep, camels, antelopes, and deer) is of primary importance to mankind, as they furnish the most nutritious kinds of flesh. We become tired of beef and mutton, or an occasional slice of venison, and desire to obtain some class of animals adapted for domestication, the flesh of which may be as savoury as venison and wholesome as mutton or beef, and serving also as a variety from the ordinary food. We now look to the antelopes to supply this desideratum.
