Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/471



astonishing fecundity of many animals has for long years been a subject of interest to the zoologist, though unfortunately too often a curse to the colonist and to the farmer. The species possessing this marvellous vitality flourish even under the most adverse circumstances, in spite of the attacks of countless enemies, even when man himself is added to the list of destroyers—such species as the White Cabbage Butterflies amongst insects, the Herring amongst fishes, the House-Sparrow amongst birds, and Rats and Rabbits amongst the Mammalia.

On the other hand, to-day we deplore the loss of many fine animals, some of which have perished from unknown causes, or from natural changes in their environment; the remainder, alas! have been directly harried out of existence by man, either for food—for the sake of the paltry commercial value of their skins or carcases—or (still less excusably) in sheer wasteful wanton destruction, the hunters killing for killing's sake. How far these mournful results might have been avoided it is impossible now to say, but the facts remain. Never again will the gigantic Moa (Dinornis sp.) wander through the ferny solitudes of Zool. 4th ser. vol. V., December, 1901.