THE ANI.MAL LIFE OF TlIF GKOFP. 293 



of amusement resorted to by kiiii^s niul princes; i1 cDiisislcd in slKiolinu mice 

 as a pastime. This royal sporl did not ])ai-1akt' of the naliirc ol' a ci'oss- 

 eouiitry limit. The tiny animals were ('(tnlincd in a cocdxpitdikc ciKdosiirc mikI 

 were shot at with small bows and arrows. ISingularly cnonuli. the l)ow and 

 arrow in the hands of the Ilawaiians was only a loy, lieiny used solely for 

 killing mice and the flightless Ilawrnian rail in the inimncr sim'uestcd in an 

 early chapter. 



Mice. 



The lioiise mouse'' is the same species that is common ;dl ovci' the world. 

 They doubtless originated in Asia. l)ut their partiality for human habitations, 

 and their omnivorous food habits, has resulted in their l)eing carried far and 

 wide by man as an unwelcome passenger in his goods wherever cargo has 

 gone by sea or land. In dcmiestication, white and siiotted varieties of boih 

 the house mouse and the black rat are common <uid have long ])een kei)t as 

 children's pets. 



There is a species of long-tailed field-mouse that is quite common in the 

 fields about Honolulu. It is probably of more recent introduction, doubtless 

 reaching the islands from California in bailed hay or in grain. 



Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. 



Rabbits ' have been introduced and liberated on two or three small islands 

 in the group. Rabbit Island, a tuff-cone on the windward side of Oahu, near 

 Makapuu Point, is thickly populated with a mongrel breed, the original stock 

 of which was introduced a number of years ago. 



In 1903 and 1904 rabbits of several varieties, including the Belgian hare 

 and large white rabbits, were liberated on Laysan Island. They increased at 

 such an astonishingly rapid rate that within six years the island was overrini 

 with them. A special expedition was sent out by the Governtiieiit for the 

 purpose of exterminating them, as they threatencHl to wi])e out the sraiity 

 native plant life found there. 



The familiar variegated European guinea-{)ig, althongli a common [)el in 

 captivity in Honolulu for many years, was liberated on Laysan Island at the 

 same time as the rabbits, and has found a congenial habitat. tliouL:ti its I'ale of 

 increase has by no means l)een so rapid as that of the rabbits. As to the 

 origin of the domestic guinea-pig, zoologists are somewhat in doubt. It is 

 thought, however, that Cutler's cavy "^ was kept in a state of doiiu'slicaliiui 

 by the Incas of Peru, and that the guinea-pig was iidrodueed into I-'urope by 

 the Dutch in the sixteenth century, shortly aflei- the discovery of .Vmei'ica. 

 Various breeds have lieen developed under domestication as pets for children, 

 but in more recent times they have lieen iiiueh usi^d in laboratories foi- expei'i- 

 mental purposes. 



Cats" Avere early brought to the islands, pi-obably c(uning on the lii'st 

 ships. They were called popoki '" by the natives, in course of time they 



'''Mti.s- ii: Kxriilii.t. ' Lf/iiiK sp. '^Cnriii ciitlfri. " Fi'li.i iloiiii'stifii . "'I'linr (lussy, 



