72 MAMMALIA 



Waitaki; and 32 stoats and 116 weasels distributed between Marl- 

 borough and West Wairarapa. A private shipment of 55 stoats and 167 

 weasels was also received for Riddiford's station in West Wairarapa. 

 The localities selected for these animals were those in which rabbits 

 were most abundant. Mr Bailey also reported that "ferrets were 

 turned out by thousands," but the success was only partial. 



In this same year a meeting was held at Masterton to consider 

 the administration of the Rabbit Act, and the best means of dealing 

 with the pest. One of the resolutions carried was : 



that the introduction of ferrets, stoats and weasels in large numbers is, in 

 the opinion of this meeting, the only means by which the rabbit pest can 

 be successfully put an end to, and that every owner of land infested with 

 rabbits should either turn out ferrets in proportion to his acreage, or contri- 

 bute to a fund for the breeding and purchase of ferrets, stoats and weasels 

 to be turned out in the district. That the land-owners present form them- 

 selves into an association for the purpose of providing the natural enemies. 



An Association for the purpose was accordingly formed with this 

 object in view, large sums of money were subscribed and hundreds 

 of stoats and weasels were introduced into the district. Several of 

 the acclimatisation societies took strong exception to the action of the 

 Government and of the sheep owners directly concerned, but as the 

 societies were themselves directly responsible for the rabbits, their 

 protests were ineffective. 



However much the introduction of the Mustelidae is to be deplored, 

 the mischief has been done. Stoats and weasels are common in nearly 

 every part of New Zealand and in some parts are enormously abundant. 

 Ferrets (or the wild form, the polecats) are also met with. The latter 

 do not thrive to any extent in the South Island; it may be that the 

 winters are too severe for them. Probably most of the ferrets originally 

 turned out were white or yellowish ; but some shot in the neighbour- 

 hood of Dunedin seem to have reverted nearly to the original colour 

 of the polecat. 



These animals have not exterminated the rabbit, they do not even 

 seem able in most parts to keep them in check. There is, however, 

 great difference of opinion on the subject. Mr Chas. J. Peters, of 

 Mount Somers, writes about these animals (August, 191 6): 



Since the stoats and weasels become fairly numerous the rabbits have 

 increased a hundred per cent, and more. I have found weasels' nests both 

 in heaps of fencing material, and also in rabbit burrows. These nests have 

 always been made out of skylarks' feathers. I have also found parts of young 

 hares at weasels' camps, but never a sign of a rabbit. 



Against this we can place the evidence of an old settler like 

 Mr H. B. Flett of Table Hill, Otago, who states most definitely that 



