HINTS TO THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2763, 26 December 1871, Page 2

HINTS TO THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Mr Charles Hnrsthouso has written a letter t® the Taranaki Jferald on subjects connected with acclimatisation. It would seem that it has been proposed to introduce hedgehogs into New Zealand, a proceeding which Mr Hursthousc deprecates, as calculated to retard the multiplication of game birds. As the Scotchman and the thistles, and the Englishman and the nettle, are instances on record of the unaccountable conduct of otherwise perfectly sane people, who for the sake of old associations, estimate the interest of their adopted country at zero, wo need not be surprised at v desire evinced to introduce useless vermin of any kind. Hedgehogs are undoubtedly inveterate eggsuckers, and of no possible use to civilised man, save in a domesticated state, when they prove capital destroyers of cockroaches and similar insect pests.

Nevertheless,: as perfectly innoxious animals save' in this, one respect, there are those •who, in the 1 faith of old memories of the glorious old woods and forests and green and shady hedgegrows and lanes of England, would introduce, unthinkingly, an animal calculated to interfere materially with imported and valuable game. But Mr Hursthouse throws out some recommendations which we cannot but think might be taken up with advantage by our own local Acclimatisation Society. He thinks that the French or red-legged partridge should be introduced into the colony. This bird is excellent eating, and the only possible objection that can be urged against it is that it drives away the English patridge, and, like the landrail, is difficult to flush. These considerations have their weight in England, where the English partridge is abundant, and where consequently an exchange for the Frenchman is anything but agreeable to sportsmen, but cannot be worthy of consideration in New Zealand, where such a wide area exists unoccupied by game of any sort. The redlegged partridge will find food and a home where tne English partridge cannot thrive, and would, we believe do well on the fern lands of this province. He is easy of transport, being hardier, and more easily reconciled to temporary confinement than his English congener. Doubts have been cast from time to time as to game coming within the province of the Society to import, and with some kinds of game we think that fair room for doubt may exist. The question of hares has ever been a bone of contention, and any Society that has determined to acclimatise an animal so destructive to crops, can entertain no reasonable objection to introduce any other description of game. Mr Hursthouse suggests roe-deer as suitable for this country, and thinks that if once introduced they could never be extirpated. Roe-deer would be valuable as an article of food, and would afford splendid sport. They are prolific, and their sylvan habits would seem to specially adapt them to a country abounding in bush. There can be no doubt that the roe-deer would soon become acclimatised in this island, if once imported, and would find abundant food in our scrubs and forests. We certainly think that the suggestions of Mr Hursthouse might profitably be considered by our own Society.— N. Z. Herald.