RABBITS DYING OF DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 8

RABBITS DYING OF DISEASE

The almost entire disappearance of rabbits from great stretches of the Western country during tho past few months, states a Sydney exchange, is a fact that is receiving a lot, of attention from the desperately-interested pnstoralists and others on the land. That tho outing of bunny cannot be attributed solely to the drought is apparent in tho continued existence of other members of the animal kingdom equally dependent on the grass supplies for sustenance. Thero is, therefore, a general belief that a disease of some virulent nature is at work among the rabbits, who have literally died in millions. At the moment investigations are being made by various stock inspectors and others in the districts where the mortality has been highest; but definite knowledge as to the form of the <leath agency has not been obtained.' The -possibilities of introducing an epidemic among the rabbits have always had a great attraction for the muchworried man on the land, and recently stepd have been taken to secure tho views of men whoso business it is to handle germs. The M'Garvie Smith Institute lias' furnished the graziers with some useful information on the subject, but this is not over-encouraging.