During the second half of the nineteenth century a wave of introductions swept over the country. The 1860s witnessed a tremendous burst of enthusiasm for acclimatisation experiments which took virtually no account of any of the scientific aspects involved. In the 1860s and 1870s people all over the country formed acclimatisation societies for the purpose of introducing what seemed to them desirable animals. The main objects of these societies were the introduction and acclimatisation of all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects, trees, plants, and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental, and the propagation of newly introduced species. The first annual report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, one of the earliest societies to be formed, stated that “the sportsman and lover of nature might then enjoy the same sports and studies that make the remembrance of their former homes so dear, the country rendered more enjoyable, our tables better supplied, and new industries fostered. To this object the Society is devoted and earnestly appeals to all to render their assistance and support.”