THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 405, 17 December 1874, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

With regard to the suggestions recently made for the importation of weasels, to mitigate the rabbit nuisance, the following, from the New Quarterly Magazine for July, may be oi some interest, I as settling the question which was raised as to the possibility of turning wease's sufficiently for the purposes of importation : — As if to show how little trust can be put in popular sayings, there is the whole weasel family. None should (according to the maxim of shyness and tameability going together) be so untameable as stoats, weasels, and ferrets. To " catch a weasel asleep "is an expression of the common belief in the wildness and watchful timidity of this family of animals. It is a popular delusion, however ; weasels have little natural fear of man. St. John the author of the most delightful books on Natural History next to White's ("Selborne") mentions how a stoat, surprised in covei*, will turn round to look at a man with apparently as much boldness as a, lion or tiger, hardly stirring to get out of the way. In the New Forest, the present writer had an opportunity of witnessing similar fearlessness in weasels. About eight or ten of them, half-grown, with one of the old ones kept in my sight us I stood under a tree for four or n've minutes together, either playing or hunting in company within a yard or two of me, giving their curious little half dog-like barks, and every now and then stopping to look at me. Yet the weasel is easily tamed.and well repays the trouble of taming him. Perhaps no small animal is so affectionate and gentle as a weasel. A young one, sold to me by a village boy for a penny, and reared very easily on bread and milk, would go j to sleep inside my sleeve or pooket, evidently liking the warmth, and he would wake up when candlelight time came, galloping i-ound and round the room, and over the chairs and sofas, with little inarticulate sounds of pleasure. Sometimes he would disappear for an hour or two in a rat-hole, and, after r.andry rattling noises and squeaks behind the wainscot would re-appear, very dirty and dusty, licking his lips, and with speckß of blood on his face : for in spite of his graceful, gentle ways, and nurture upon innocent bread-milk diet, he had a terrible thirst for blood in his heart. — Southland News.

The frequent use of apple*, r ltber beloro or after meals, has » most healthful tffeut upon <li#e»tion — better eat lent, mat and more fruit. An eminent French phy.iuan think* that the tl^orease of djs|>ppaia and biiiom afifeoliona in Pan* allowing to the increnaed oonsumptton of «pple», whicn fruit he ra uiuama 19 an admirable prophylactic and tonio, ■■ vt»n H^ ft v»rj nourishing and en»ily dige*te 1 article of food. T t Paris ftii^ are said to devour one hundred millions of apple* ertrj winter— that it they did before the war. Whether tbis efctiaitte is'tru* or not, norerthelew tbo French «re ertr»T«jjmt!y fend of ftpplet «nd other fruit.