The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-08-25
SOME EVILS OF ACCLEMA-
TIZATION.
The Moneoose.

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million of acres desolated by the rabbi
in Australia, the infinite amount OF dan
age effected by the sparrow in Americ
(where the bird was introduced as
means of checking the numbers OF cater
pillars which existed in the trees c
the larger cities), and the extirpation c
edible birds by letting pigs run wild il
the islands OF the South Seas, might b
regarded as sufficient to prove the evil
| of ill-considered standardization (; bu
apparently these examples have M
effect. An evil is seen in the existence
of some noxlous animal, and thoughtlesS
persons, without considering the ulii.
mate result OF what they are doing, in
troduce some other animal TO check its
career-not rejecting for moment that
the remedy they propose may be hun
bred times worse than the disease which
they attempt 10 cure. The employment
Of sto2ts. weasels, ierretS, etc for the
purpose OF checking the progress OF the
rabbit pest in Australia is evidently one
OF these short-sightod proceedings. What
will be the ultimate result Of that action.
provided il rssUcceSSful, may be inferred
from the consequences which have fol.
lowed the Introduction OF the mongoose
into Jamaica, Tor the purpose OF destroy
ing the rats thai fed on the susareanes
and other agricultural produce. The
,-l,,l
of the country, the variety OF food which
it is able to obtain, have been favorable
to the reproduction OF the mongoose,
which now exists in Jamaica in large
numbers. Much may even be said in
favor of this animal. 1t has cleared the
island OF snakes HARMLESS as we'll as
poisonous), and it has extirpated the
rats from the sugar estates. Neverthe-
less, the mongoose has come to be re-
garded as an intolerable curse, not only
to the settlers and planters, but to the
people OF Jamaica as whole. Jamaica
used to be celebrated for certain table
delicacies that existed in wild state.
Guineafowl were introduced from Africa
some two centuries ago, and for one
hundred and fifty years have been re-
garded as fer& nature" They laid
their abundant eggs on the ground,
and consequently have been extermin-
ated by the mongooSe. The large pigeons
which held foremost place amongst the
native delicacies of the island are gone.
The edible land crabs that were found in
legions at certain season oil the year
are now as rare in jamaica as they were
at one time plentiful These are some
OF the results OF the importation Of the
into Jamaica; but worse still
remains TO be recorded. The whole Of
the fauna OF the country is being effected
by this noxious animal, which was intro
duced with the idea that it would act
Sepefieially.
The manner in which the existence of
one animal acts on another was curiously
evidenced when Darwin proved the con-
nection between the existen OF the
humblebee and that of old maids. The
nests OF the humblebees are apt to be
destroyed by feld-mice, which in their
turn are preyed upon by cats, and cats
ire encouraged by ladies who ara not
with the cares of maternity in
extends from old maids to bees, is traced
the latter being more frequent near
human habitations than in districts
where field-mice are unchecked by the
presence OF cats. a similar. ultoward
result has occurred In Jamaica, which at
he present time is said to be suffering
rom an intense plague of ticks and grass
ice, that abound in hundreds and
and are found on every blade
II grass, leaf and twig in the rural dis
riots of the island. entailing an immense
amount OF suffering on man and beast |
throughout the colony This plague is
lue to the introduction of the mon
loose, which, having destroyed the |
ground lizards and well-nigh eXtir !
,ated the insectivorous birds that |
lsed TO prey upon the ticks, has
.iyen rise to the increase of this terrible |
So great has been the
damage done by the introduction OF the |
nongoose that, during the last session
i the Legislative Council, a commission |
vas appointed to devise means for its |
They examined witnesses
rom all parts OF the island; they pre- |
ented report TO the Governor, which |
Fas placed before the Legislative Council, |
nd they suggested that bill should be
'assed for the protection OF the country |
rom the ravages OF the mongoose, which, |
5 it was introduced by the Government
nth view to the destruction OF the rats
y the sugar plantations, should, it is
be extirpated by the same
now that it has become an in
0lerable nuisance and pest. The com
littee suggested that three halfpence
hould be offered for the ska OF every
lale, and three-pence for every female
reward regarded as suffi-
lentiY high to induce the negro peas
ntry TO purchase traps, and to encour-
sc their ardor in the work of extirmin-
ting this savage animal throughout the
hole colony. A feeling OF intense irri-
ltion and dissatisfaction is said to be
imminent unless the Government adopts
,me measures Tor destroying an animal
lie introduction OF which has produced
ich an infinite amount OF harm to the
)lony- The enormous amount OF evil
lat has been effected by the thoughtless
PRODUCTION OF animals, usually with the
ost beneficial intentions, into countries
here they did not previously exist, [
Ionld cause all would-be acclimatizers
consider well what may be the ulti-
ate, az well as the immediate, effect OF |
Producing new species into countries
here they were previously unknown.
The Field.
Damaged By Water.
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