318 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Or, take rabbit scab or lice. It is quite easy to catch a 

 couple of rabbits so aitlicted. Hhut them up with some 

 healthy ones for a time after the poisoning, and then let them 

 all go out upon the run. Wherein lies that expense? 



Liver-rot I know little about. This disease was and is still 

 upon the Dry Eiver, and it was upon my neighbours' lands, 

 especially Mr. Tully's. 



To it as nuich as to the bladder- worm I ascribe our success 

 in reducing the pest. I would point out that rabbit-fences 

 check the tree spread of these diseases, especially the fencing 

 off the marshy damp spots from the dry uplands. 



Professor Tbomas's remarks upon Nature's method of 

 check upon check are admirable. I have always revered 

 Nature's wisdom in this respect. But the same checks 

 appear to me to apply all over the globe to the same things. 

 Thus the diseases or checks incidental to the rabbit apply just 

 as well in Australia as in New Zealand, in North America as 

 in Africa. Nature will give us no new check here, and the 

 mistake we make is trying to seek for something new. Thus, 

 if we wish to clear out any " bail spots " upon a run, the best 

 plan is not to trap or fumigate, but to use tame ferrets and 

 nets. My opinion is that natural enemies, as well as these 

 diseases, will live just as well in x\ustralia as in New Zealand. 

 Stoats and weasels are perhaps more useful in the high snowy 

 lands of the South Island of New Zealand than ferrets, the 

 latter animal being the more delicate of the tJu'ee. I am 

 building little earth homes, and covering them w'ith scrub, in 

 various parts of my run, to afford warm shelter to the natural 

 enemy. But all three animals will be found most useful in 

 Australia, and the proper things to at once introduce there. 

 Cats are useful everywhere. 



In conclusion, I ask my hearers to excuse this loiig paper. 

 In criticizing the work of so able a man as Professor Thomas 

 I can only say that I do so from the practical - expe- 

 rience point of view. I know that practical experience is 

 generally ignorant experience ; but then, my measures having 

 succeeded, my words should be listened to. I know also that 

 it is difficult for one man to try and persuade a thousand, and 

 the longer I live the more I doubt my own ability so to do. 

 Each person holds a different opinion upon the rabbit ques- 

 tion : I can only leave good Eatlu'i' I'ime to say which is 

 right. 



Sir James Plector has shown mc the official correspond- 

 ence on the occurrence of this disease in Canada, and permits 

 me to append it as having an important bearing on the 

 matter. 



