SQUIRRELS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17862, 7 August 1918, Page 3

SQUIRRELS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Are we not rather absurdly nervous and fussy about the introduction of possible “pests”? Babbits eat grass and sparrows (among other tilings) wheat; a very little.fpresight ought to have shown that there was a risk taken .when they were introduced. But the squirrel (English—l cannot speak for ttie American) is purely arboreal in its habits and could not possibly do any damage except among trees. There is a vague theory, that ho bites off the tops of young pine, trees; if this could be proved he ought not to be introduced. Squirrels could hardly be a pest' even if they took to eating fruit, as they are not nocturnal in their ways, like, tho opossum. , , , In my opinion it is rather deplorable that an Acclimatisation. Society should confine its attention entirely or almost entirely to “game.” Some people would bo afraid to acclimatise the tortoise lest it should developi a turn of speed and a voice like a pig and compete with our inotor-cars on the public roads.—l npi. etc.,. . : v . . ; ~ ARNOLD' WALL. ‘ Canterbury College : - • . ‘