METHODS OF DESTRUCTION IN AUSTRALIA . 37 



nmg ou the liead ; slight discharge from the eyes and nose, lasting three 

 or four days; emaciation, followed by loss of power in the hind legs, 

 and finally death with convulsions in about three weeks. Experiments 

 were made with this disease on a large scale, but were only partially 

 successful. In addition to the bladder worm and rabbit scab, experi- 

 ments have been made in New Zealand with rabbit measles {Gysticercus 

 pisiformis) and liver coccidium {Coccidium oviforme). The latter para- 

 site is injurious to man, and its introduction is therefore dangerous. 

 Diseases caused by parasites do not offer much hope as a successful 

 method of destroying rabbits, as their effects at best can be only indi- 

 rect by bringing about a condition of general weakness and emaciation, 

 and thereby rendering the animal more subject to attacks of other dis- 

 eases. A full account of these experiments will be found in the report 

 of Prof. A. P. W. Thomas on The Rabbit Nuisance in New Zealand, 

 1888, and the Report of the New South Wales Royal Commission on the 

 Introduction of Contagious Diseases amongst Rabbits, Sydney, 1889. 



Further inquiry into the epidemic and parasitic diseases of rabbits 

 was advised by the New South Wales commission, and it may be added 

 that this means of destruction seems to promise better success in this 

 country, where large numbers of jack rabbits are destroyed every few 

 years by epidemics. 



METHODS USED IN AUSTRALIA. 



No less than 1,456 persons ' submitted schemes to the Australian 

 commission for the destruction of rabbits by methods other than dis- 

 ease. The various schemes were arranged under the following heads :^ 



1. Commercial utilization. 7. Miscellaneous, including firing the country, 



2. Fencing. cutting oft' from food and water^ bunting 



3. Poisons. and trapping parties, etc. 



4. Natural enemies. 8. Indefinite methods. 



5. Traps. 9. General methods. 



6. Electricity. 10. Methods involving special legislation. 



A method which has been tried with some success in New South 

 Wales, consists in capturing a number of rabbits alive and allowing the 

 males to escape after killing all the females. As soon as the males 

 begin to predominate in numbers, it is said that they persecute the 

 females with their attentions to such an extent as to prevent them from 

 breeding, and also kill the young that happen to be born.^ 



The Australian commissioners did not favor commercial utilization, 

 because "the x>rinciple of making rabbits a profitable article of com- 

 merce is universally condemned by practical men interested in their 

 destruction, on the ground that it leads to their conservation." This 

 method, however, has recently been brought to notice and seems to 

 be one of the most promising (see pp. 65-78). 



' Final Report, 1890, pp. 3-4. 



2 Nature, XXXIX, March 21, 1889, pp. 493-494. 



