THE ROYAL STAGS OF WINDSOR: THE SAGA OF THE WINDSOR GREAT PARK RED DEER IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. By D. Bruce Banwell.

1994 1st edition. 4to (195 x 256mm). Ppvi,288. B/w photographs, maps, bibliography. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

The saga of the Windsor Great Park red deer in New Zealand and Australia." The influence and history of the Windsor Great Park strain of European Red deer has never before been documented. These animals were the foundation stock for many of the English and European parks and for almost all the Red deer of Australia. Here in New Zealand, they first formed the basis of the famous Wairarapa, or Royal Albert herd, and subsequent liberations placed Windsor Great Park blood-lines to several other significant and smaller herds on both islands. In this book, Banwell exposes the complex genetic history of this famous strain of Red deer, documents all the Australian and New Zealand liberations, and records spread and establishment, the trophy animals, successful stalkers and current status of each herd." Chapters include: The European red deer and formation of the parks; A brief history of Windsor Great Park; The Windsor blood-lines, the controversy; The Windsor blood-lines, the influence; In the beginning, the Wairarapa; To the dawn of a new century; The celebrated seasons of the Royal Albert Herd; From 1930 onwards, the era of panic; Tales from the Tararuas; Monarchs of the King Country, parts I and II, the spread and establishment, the Whakapapa wire; Kings of Southland, the Manapouri saga; West from Wakatipu; The mystic Urewaras; The minor placings - Stewart Island, Lake Kanieri, Greymouth, the Kaimais, over the Bombay Hill, the Windsor Great Park influence elsewhere in New Zealand; The Royal Alberts on the New Zealand farming scene.