Whitk. — On lliihhiis, \Vc<.i>ich, anJ Spanvn-s. 205- 



portiince to llic agiicultiuist that the number of insectivorous 

 birds should be increased rather than diminished. So these 

 trec-chmbing Mustelidce are not admissible, for they take 

 not only the nests of eggs, but the birds also when at 

 roost in the trees. I notice Sir James Hector, in his 

 letter to the Minister of Mines,''' remarks that he is 

 of opinion they would in New Zealand leave the open 

 country and take to the forest. This is decided evidence 

 against them. Sir James continues, " the British martens 

 have even a worse reputation than the polecat as destroyers 

 of lambs." I take exception to this. First, I am of opinion 

 that there are no British martens, properly so-called, for 

 martens are tree-climbers; and I maintain that the killing of 

 lambs, and even assaults by companies of weasels on man him- 

 self, are old fables and not properly authenticated. Of the 

 polecat I have no certain knowledge, other than that it is 

 almost or entirely extinct in Britain. 



The horned owl is a deadly enemy to all game-birds, and 

 extends its depredations even within the Polar regions, where 

 it plays havoc with the ptarmigan, a species of grouse. From 

 this it is evident that the less we have to do with importations 

 of such Canadian animals the safer it will be. 



Mr. A. E. Wallace, in "Darwinism," says, "the sable 

 (Miistela zibellina), unlike other animals and birds, when 

 resident within the polar circle, is not in the habit of assuming 

 the white coat, but retains its rich brown fur throughout the 

 Siberian winter, for owing to its tree-climbing proclivities it 

 finds a harbour from pursuit among the trees, with the bark 

 of which its colour assimilates, and not only feeds partially 

 on fruits and seeds, but is able to catch birds among the 

 fir-trees." This is a remarkable habit, and causes the sable to 

 feed occasionably on the same food and copy some of the 

 actions of the squirrel, which is of the family liodentia and a 

 congener of the rabbit. 



Why the marsupial native cats of Australia [Dasyuridai) 

 are not spoken of as a check on the rabbits in that country 

 is curious, for they are decidedly carnivorous, and I have know^n 

 one take a full-grown laughing-jackass {Dacelo gigantca) which 

 was crippled in the wing, and was so kept within the paling- 

 fence of a garden. This occurred at night ; and the cries of 

 the bird, when being dragged under the house, during the small 

 hoiu-s, were weird and startling. 



To all who will take the evidence of persons living in 

 rabbit-infested districts in New Zealand and Australia it is 

 clearly proved that trapping, poisoning, or hunting are a con- 

 tinual di-ain on time and money, without any permanent 



* Trans. N.Z. Iiiat., vol. xxii., p. .320. 



