Untitled

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 April 1927, Page 9

According to a naturalist, the wild eat is by no means a rare and vanishing species, but, in spite of traps and keepers, has spread over many parts of Scotland. In certain districts it has become so numerous in deer forests and woods that steps will have to be taken against it. The wild cat lives in cairns and brings up its kittens as the fox does. It hunts by day, and kills mercifully, usually hunting rabbits and hares. Although it rarely kills grouse, it will do so when there is no pther. game to be had, anil consequently keepers make wa!r opt it. The wild cat does good work in ing down rabbits —those enemies of the farmer. A wild cat and a golden eagle had a fight near Loch Ballieli. The cat crouched on a rock, and the eagle swooped at it thirty times, but at ever attack the little animal sprang up, fighting with tooth and claw, until the great bird was driven off. Ambergris has been coming ashore pretty regularly in the western bays of Stewart Island during the past ftix months, and several people have, found it profitable to keep a close watch aitei westerly gales. About a month ago, states a Stewart Island correspondent of an exchange, Mr. Adam Adamson picked up some very line quality nniliergris .at Doughboy Bay, worth hilly £l3O. This beach has proved to be .so profitable to visit that Mr. Adamson has taken up the lease of some land there, and is building a -small hut, with tho intention of spending a good deal of his time in that spot. He has also had a light dinghy built to enable him to visit the nearby hays during fine weather. It is. interesting to know that a petition will .shortly be presented to. Parliament asking for the protection of the sperm whale in New Zealand waters. According to. those interested the sperm whale is almost a. rarity no-w, and from Auckland to •Stewart Island many people derive considerable profit from, the ambergris which the sperm whale alone sheds. The value of ambergris found in these parts alone during the past three years is in the vicinity of four figures per year.