Rabbits in Hyde Park.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2965, 1 August 1888, Page 2

Rabbits in Hyde Park.

. Wlion tbt rabbits aie all exterminated from Australia, says an English exchange, and; Tasmania is finally rolioveil from the dominion of' bnnny,: e' yibed race t will J. stilli lfava; a' lefuge op°n to thorn. They will contmuo to flonnßb in the-Wost Enc|p London. At all .events a•: eolon®f tlieso animals lias eatabhshed itsefom Hyde Park, and, according tlf||ll appearances,, they are likely to mcrsasSl and multiply with an: impunity that wouldastonish a .Queensland squatter. On tlip banks of the rippling berpentine Cockneys have now opportunities of studying;; the science of: zoology, whicii ought to render them comparatively nidependant of" The Zoo." In that rustic haunt the rabbits now divide with the ducks, the swans, arid other water-fowl the attention of the numerous frequenter's ;of the place. Their introduction was iii a. measure, accidental. Some tiine since a 'male rabbit was found by the keepers in Hyde Park,'and, as he appeared to be contented with his' surroundings,- he was in course of time provided with; a mate to sbaro his joys. The pair havo now a large family, whose gambols on the greensward are the delight of the children who take their airings in the Park. It is possible that in course of time the authorities will not find their new pets an unmixed pleasure,' as their exceedingly, prolific qualities may raider tliem too numerous,.and tlioy may damage the shrubs by their burrows. There is, however, one safeguard against such a contingency. The genus "'Arry" may be relied upon to kill a certain number, whether tlio keepers like it or not. It is probably from 110 want of trying that the entiro colony lias not being exterminated by this class ere now, " 'Arry" could give points in this connection to even M. Pasteur.