V 
ENDERBURY 
DRAFT 
MAMMALS 
Only two species of mammals have maintained potentially permanent 
populations* Both of these were probably introd ced by man and both are now 
extinct. Ellis ( 1^37 ) mentions that a horse and mule left on the 
\b a 
island inM8when the Phoenix Island Guano Co. ceased its operations, 
cU 
were still alive and healthy when tte- Arundell and Co. arrived. Bones 
of these or other individuals are still found on the island. 
Polynesian Rat - Rattus erulans : Rats, presumably of this species, are reported by t 
the U.S. Exploring Expedition in 18 hfi (Wilkes, jgHo p. 57j( )This was the first group to 
report on the island and they found rats numerous and noted that the rats built 
their nests in clumps of grass. Donaghho (1952) saw several in 1938 and collected 
one specimen. Donaghho mentions that the rats ran into holes and at present -&there 
are n# very few grass clumps which could be used for nesting^even if rats were &&& 
present. No rats or evidence of rats ha^ been found on any P0B8P trip to the island, 
Feral Cat - Felis domesticus * These were introduced curing or just prior to 
WW II. On the first POBSP visit in July, 1963 several skulls were found and a few 
cats were seen at night. On subsequent trips 2 males and 2 females were killed 
and nose have been seen since July, 1961;. Although oneVfemales had six fetuse 
s 
in the uteri it is possible that tire population would have died out -in from 
natural causes. 
