ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY AND OPOSSUMS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 50, 22 November 1928, Page 11

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY AND OPOSSUMS

Sir—l read “Tui’s” letter in your issue of November 20, but I think the trappers have a different point of view as regards the opossums and native birds. 1 think if “Tui” put in six weeks in the bush after opossums and saw for himself what actually does occur and 'S caught in the traps he would say the birds are getting a fair spin. I notice that the kaka and other native birds, which were almost extinct, are getting about again. Now, Sir. what sort of a breadwinner is the tui compared with the opossum —one has only to think ot the hands the skins go through, before reaching the shop window. Lhe tui lives on berries and spoils the kowliai when it is out in flower —the opossum lives on berries and leaves. The worst enemies of young trees in the bush are pigs, goats, and deer— they ringbark and strip the bark, whereas the opossum bites ladderlike up the tree. I think the liberation of opossums was the best thing the Acclimatisation Society ever did. I might mention that one of the worst foes of young birds is the magpie. I have seen magpies take a nest of young thrushes out and play with them in a paddock.— I am, etc., SILVER GREY. Akatarawa, November 20. ■