328 Transactions. — Zoology. 



No one has opposed this fatal step on the part of the 

 New Zealand Government more strongly or consistently 

 than Professor Newton, of Cambridge. In a letter to myself, 

 as far back as the 23rd of July, 1876, the learned professor 

 says,— 



" In Land and Water for 8th July, Frank Buckland wrote 

 that he had been applied to by Messrs. Macowie and Cuth- 

 bertson, of Invercargill, to send out weasels to New Zealand 

 (five pairs at £5 each) to be let loose to check the super- 

 abundance of rabbits. Buckland said he could not get weasels, 

 but proposed sending ' polecat-ferrets ' — thirty or forty pairs ! 

 I at once wrote to remonstrate with him, urging him to do 

 nothing till he had communicated with New Zealand ; and 

 this he has promised to do, but does not give up the notion. 

 Harting, Eowley, and some one else have also protested in 

 terms like my own, as you will see by Land and Water for 15th 

 and 22nd July. I suspect Buckland will eventually drop the 

 matter, but meanwhile it seems quite possible that some 

 sheep-farmer or other (for with them began the complaint) 

 may on his own responsibility act on this mischievous hint 

 without waiting for Buckland, and then good-bye at once and 

 for ever to your brevipennate birds, as well as to many other 

 of your native species — which of course have no instincts 

 whereby they may escape from such bloodthirsty enemies— to 

 say nothing of pheasants and the like, which you have been 

 introducing at so great a cost, and your poultry. Here, as I 

 dare say you know, the polecat (and the ferret is only a tame 

 polecat) is the most detested beast we have, and in conse- 

 quence has nearly been extirpated. In New Zealand it will 

 undoubtedly become master of the situation. 



" So strongly do I feel on this subject that I am writing 

 to Hector (both at Wellington and Philadelphia, to make sure 

 of catching him) urging him to use all his influence to prevent 

 such a disastrous importation ; even, if need be, to getting an 

 Act of your Parliament prohibiting the introduction of any 

 predaceous animals. Should Hector not have returned, I 

 pray you to do what seems best under the circumstances ; but 

 be sure there is no time to be lost. I am writing to Hutton 

 to the same effect, and I trust that among you all you will be 

 able to keep off the threatened scourge. Colonists in general 

 have not been slow to hinder unacceptable importations from 

 the mother-country — as witness the historic tea-chests at 

 Boston, U.S.A., and Australian convicts. I have always 

 understood the latter were selected for the mild nature of 

 their crimes : but even this was not allowed. There can't 

 be a doubt of how you should behave when you have a 

 shipload of known marauders to be let loose on your peace- 

 ful shores, and I conceive my duty as an honorary member of 



