NATURAL ENEMY QUESTION.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 10, Issue 1147, 4 August 1881, Page 2

NATURAL ENEMY QUESTION.

(To the Editor of the Standard)

-tu, —As there is a Considerable amount of discussion jilst now on thff subject of the natural enemy of thff rabbits, and it is a subject of great importance, I think it is the duty of every one who possesses any real knowledge on the subject to contribute their mite. In the first place I think those who advocate the introduction of the Stoat and weasel very imicii overrate their destructive powers iff the direction they wish, and underrate their capabilities for mischief, I lived for the first 21 years of my life in a country place in England, mid having a taste for ndtiiral historv t was observant of such thing as far as my knowledge goes. If all that was expected was realised of them, the limited number that could be obtained would make no appreciable difference in the destruction of rabbits, but the destruction ot the feathered tribe would very soon bo appreciated. In fact, if they could bo obtained numbers their advocates wish, such things as poultry yards, &e., would soon be things of the past, as they, like those other, pests the sparrows, have a decided preference for farmyards to the open country, and eggs, young chickens, ducks, &c. they have a special liking to. In my humble opinion the terrier dog is by far the most destructive enemy of the rabbit, and being domesticated their numbers could be diminished at will, and visa versa. The next most destructive enemy is the cat; but then the efft and dog are decided enemies ; equally so are the cat, the dog, and the weasel, therefore the terrier dog is par excellence the rabbit’s greatest enemy except man. As for the introduction of the fox, I think that it is too absurd to be thought of for a moment by any man of common sense who Jlas a particle of knowledge on the siifljtfct; better encourage the increase AL wild dogs. I am, &c., On SERVER,.