96 MAMMALIA 



and protected them for two years. Later on they became so numerous 

 that they were declared to be no longer game, and all restrictions 

 about shooting them were removed. Mr E. P. Turner tells me 

 (January, 191 6) that they are found all through the volcanic plateau 

 of the North Island from Rotorua to Waiouru. 



In no part of New Zealand have they increased to such an extent 

 as in South Canterbury, where they became so abundant that a con- 

 siderable export trade sprang up, mostly from the port of Timaru. 

 Thus the total number of frozen hares exported from New Zealand 

 in 1910 was declared at 10,744; ^^ ^9^^ ^^ ^^^ ii)4i8; and in 1912, 

 7240. I have been told, and it is highly probable, that many more 

 were exported as rabbits. 



I am informed that in New Zealand hares usually produce three 

 or four young at once; whereas in England they seldom have more 

 than two. It is also stated that the animals are considerably larger 

 than in Britain. In both cases the statements require verification, 

 but if correct, the superabundance of the food supply is the principal 

 factor. It is probably only true of those districts where rabbits are 

 almost unknown. 



In some parts of New Zealand hares tend to become white in 

 the winter season, just as in parts of the old country, following the 

 same seasonal variation as occurs in ferrets, stoats and some other 

 sub-arctic animals. Mr Stead informs me that this is a familiar phe- 

 nomenon in Canterbury; and Mr E. H. Burn states that they are not 

 uncommon in the Mackenzie Country. My son, G. Stuart Thomson, 

 considers that hares are much more abundant than rabbits in the 

 North Auckland Peninsula. 



Order INSECTIVORA 



Family Erinaceid^ 



* Hedgehog (Erinacms europeeus) 



In 1870 the Canterbury Society received a pair of hedgehogs 

 from Mr D. Robb, purser of the 'Hydaspes,' and in 1871 received 

 one from Mr Nottidge. 



In 1885 a shipment of one hundred was made to the Otago Society, 

 but only three survived. These were liberated in a suburban garden, 

 but were very sluggish though the weather was warm. I attributed 

 this to the fact that they had lost their usual season of hibernation. 

 The female died a month or two after arrival, and the two males 

 were allowed to go free. Other hedgehogs must have been imported, 

 for they were found at Sawyer's Bay about 1890. 



