32-i Transactions. — Zoology. 



Extract of Letter from W. Beodie, Esq., President 

 Toronto Natural History Society. 



Of the several agencies which operate in Ontario and the 

 North-west Provinces in limiting the increase of the native 

 rabbit [Lcpus avicricanus, Erxl.), the three principal are — 

 (1) The cryptoid parasites, the development of which requires 

 an intermediate carnivorous animal preying on the rabbit, 

 such as the wolf, fisher, and owl. (2.) The wood-tick, a large 

 external parasite, not yet well separated from other species of 

 the genus, which, though often found on other rodents and on 

 carnivorous animals, is especially a parasite on the rabbit. 

 (3.) Carnivorous animals, the principal of which are the wolf, 

 fox, lynx, fisher, marten, and owl. Of these, the fisher, 

 marten, and owl prey more exclusively on rabbits than any of 

 the others. 



From remote and various causes these vary in number 

 from year to year, and when a maximum of their number 

 occur in the same season the rabbits are brought down 

 to zero. The parasites reduce the staying-powers of the 

 rabbit, thus making it an easier prey to its carnivorous 

 enemies, while these, in turn, force it from the best feeding- 

 grounds. 



To check the increase of the English rabbit in New Zea- 

 land, I would reconnnend the importation and protection of the 

 fisher (Mustela pcnnantii), the marten (JSInstela aviericana), 

 and the horned owl {Bubo rmjiniana). The first two are 

 amongst the largest and most insatiable of their race, breed 

 freely, are hardy, have a wide geographical range, are 

 swift runners, have good scent, and freely follow rabbits into 

 their burrows. They are also good climbers, thus easily 

 eluding the pursuit of dogs and other large animals. Neither 

 of them are large enough to do injury to any domestic animals 

 except fowls. The horned owl is a large, hardy, and powerful 

 bird, having a wide geographical range, lives to an old age, 

 and breeds freely. Where rabbits are abundant it feeds almost 

 exclusively upon them, and as it is a nocturnal feeder it is 

 easy to protect domestic fowls from its attack. From the 

 fact that these animals thrive well in confinement, eating 

 living or dead food, and from their generally hardy nature, it 

 is believed they would endure a long ocean-voyage. 



W. Brodie. 



Canadian liABBrT-oisEASE. 

 Inspector Mackay informs me tliat there is an island in 

 Lake Wanaka which at one time swarmed with rabbits, but 

 they were attacked by a disease, and nearly, if not quite, exter- 

 minated. A similar instance exists in the Motunau Island, on 



