STOATS AND WEASELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 545, 28 June 1909, Page 4

STOATS AND WEASELS.

I-1 , . PROSPECTS' OF VALUABLE DISCUSSION ' INFORMATION GALLED FOB. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) .' Ctiilatchurch, Juno 26. The; Australian Ornithologists''" Union, ro. cently. wrote' t6 Sir,. Josopn ward, Asking, in-. formation on the eUcet of the introciilcwoh i of stoats and" weasels oil rabbits' and uativa I birds'in New Zealand. " Sir Joseph's .reply.was, that: whilo„tlio stoats and weasila' had done- much towards 'mitigating, the 'rabbit, pest, ■ poisoning, not boiug.now required wlicro it. was very necessary bel'oro,- tnoy bad iiot ilone. any appreciate damage to tho liativo birds, . 1; ,\: ; r \ ;On this point, Mr. Edgar Stead: writes to the.-."Pvtcss''. as follows i- 1 -','lt Boomed. to mo that this reply, at .tbe least, : required qualifying, and, £3.the Nou" Zealand representative of the Australian Ornithologists' Union; I wrote . them !on :tho Bubjeot, I pointed nut -that: every student of , bird-Ufa in New Zealand agreed that tho stoat and weasel, had' done groat damago to our native avifauiia, and; instanced a particular and, in- ', disputable .casoy.whioh bnd .oomo undor my .notice, .whoro they had quite exterminated a small mutton bird colony, on Banks .Peninsula. : I also quoted from Sir Walter Bui. let-' s latest work'on Now Zealand birds, evidence that, goes to prove that' the rapid disappearance of. the.'fern bird, some of-■ thoirails, iho-littlc wrens, and.inahy'otliers, may bo attributed, to the introduction of the veri imn'..: ''As regards rabbits; I" described two instances that had coino undermy. notice' wherb 'the. stoats and Weasels had boon ab- ; solutely useless, and I guotod (from corres- • poudcnce. published by Sir Walter lliillpr) instances .of stoats. and weaselskilling lambs.' and; poultry, .and. destroying eggs, and .offered .to . got: soiuo. expressions .- of : public opinion ■ through tho/New.: Zenlarid. press. . .■ "In;reply to pay letter, the lion, secretary of tho A.O.U. said that any further information on : the' subject 'would be very welcome. I am writing," therefore, to a si: landholders,,, and other observers, to kindlv forward ( to me' any information thev ■ rVv have on the ; following-.: *T^Vj ■A'niount, ,of. damage 1'"; ilio • iiiid-' weasels to ;our. native; birds or rimo (im» ,pprtH,- or native):: ;-(2,V,' iheiv .oivl tno ribhit pest; (31' damage douo to lambs': MY lilanwßo. done to iioultry -or engs ■■■/km ppi'mon* I ns' to. wliethn.r: the '.net: rosull of the mlro. . ductal o. ■ thpso r-nimals has boon: beneficial or othorwißo." -