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ADSTllACfGoats were liberated in at least 10 places on the Auckland Islands in the late nineteenth century as food for castaways. Only one population now survives, comprising about 100 animals. They live on the north-west side of Port Ross which is one of the driest and warmest parts of tho main island.The vegetation on parts of tho island, but particularly where the goats now live. has been occasionally burnt and cleared. In summer 1972-73 the status of the goats and of their habitat was surveyed. A preliminary map was drawn of present vegetation around Port Ross. and permanent plots were established to follow continuing vegetational changes.At sea level the southern boundary of goat distribution was a shallow stream. They were constrained altitudinally by the distribution of suitable food sources, and by weather conditions in the upland. Virtually the whole day was spent fceding, and reproductive behaviour. play, or inactive rest were not seen. Ninety-two percent of groups contained five or fewer animals who moved around meeting other groups and parting again. Decause of the peat substrate, the goats had overgrown, split hooves and they ran poorly. Five goats caught by hand had body measurements that were. in general, above the means for a mainland population. Seventy-five percent were predominantly white or grey. Direct observation showed that open scrub and fine-grass swards were favoured above forest, tussock grassland, and dense scrub as feediPlg areas; a conclusion supported by the relative quantities of plant species in faecal pellets.Palatable plants were potentially most abundant in the Myrsine divor{cata community which formed the scrub line. This community was too dense and too wet to be used by goats however, and in practice the best of the accessible sources were: low-altitude open scrub, and fine-grass swards. Much of the forest interior was bare but this was due morc to site history than to browsing by goats. In canopy gaps, forest plants regenerated within thickets of unpalatables, so that they eventually reached the canopy. In the same way, sites modified by man have regenerated. and this will probably continue even in the presence of goats.The goats do not endanger plant communities or rare species within their present range, and arc not likely to spread. 221

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First incisor teeth from known-age domestic sheep were examined to determine whether annual lines developed, and to test 3 processing techniques. Fiuorescing lines in undecalcified, unstained transverse sections indicated completed years in 44 % of teeth. Dark lines in decalcified, stained transverse sections indicated completed years in 8 % of teeth. Dark lines seen by reflected light in undecalcified roots ground transversely by hand indicated completed years in 62 % of teeth. Grinding by hand was the simplest, quickest, and most dependable method.

A scientific reserve of 200 ha has been created on Pitt Island, Chatham Islands for some 300 sheep from a flock of merino origin which has been feral for about 70 years. The reserve has a history of burning-off, and of grazing by cattle, sheep, and pigs. Transects have been established to follow changes in the vegetation. Although the original sheep were white, about 90% of the feral sheep have pigmented fleeces. Self-shedding of the wool is common in the population. The contribution that feral mammals can make to genetic conservation, and the problems that they pose to other conservation priorities, are discussed.