MARSUPIALIA 33 



Professor Fl3nin of Hobart states that even with the protection 

 given to the opossum in Tasmania their position in the State is 

 seriously endangered. It is estimated that 100,000 were killed in 191 1 

 for their skins. 



Ring-tailed Opossum {Pseudochinis peregrinus) 

 The Canterbury Society introduced two of these animals in 1867, 

 but do not seem to have liberated them. 



Family Dasyurid^ 



Australian Native Cat (Dasyttrus viverrimus) 



In 1868 the Canterbury Society received two of these animals from 



a Captain Thomson. Presumably they were not liberated, as there 



is no further record of them. The introduction of hurtful carnivorous 



animals, except under Government sanction,has always beenforbidden 



in New Zealand. 



Family Didelphyid^ 



Bandicoot {Perameles obesula) 



The Auckland Society obtained some bandicoots, how many is 

 not specified, from a Mr E. Perkins in 1873, but there is no record as 

 to what was done with them. These were probably the short-nosed 

 bandicoot {Perameles obesula) which is common in Australia and 

 Tasmania. 



Order UNGULATA 



Family SuiD« 



*Pigs; Wild Boar {Sus scrofa) 



The first pigs landed in New Zealand were two little ones which 

 De Surville presented to the Chief of the natives at Doubtless Bay 

 in December, 1769. It is not known what happened to these early 

 juvenile immigrants. 



Captain Cook introduced pigs on his second voyage to New 

 Zealand as he states that while in Queen Charlotte Soimd in June, 

 1773, "Captain Fumeaux put on shore, in Cannibal Cove, a boar 

 and two breeding sows, so that we have reason to hope this coimtry 

 will, in time, be stocked vwth these animals, if they are not destroyed 

 by the natives before they become wild, for, afterwards, they vnll 

 be in no danger." 



and small boys. These I can manage to fix during the daylight, but cannot see why 

 a set of cianks, who have nothing of their own to destroy, should compel me to 

 sit up at night to shoot further vermin. If I am counted out in the assumption, 

 will some 'boobs' join me in bringing pressure on the Government, for the intro- 

 duction of rattlesnakes, tigers and other interesting subjects, because the rattle 

 and claws are beautiful, and the meat would compete with local grown buUy?" 



