Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — Rabbits in Australia. [ARTICLE]

Rabbits in Australia.

Mr. Walter Dalrymple Severn recently delivered an illustrated lecture to a large audience at the Imperial Institute, London, on “The Babbit Plague in Australia.” The lecturer said it was at the period of the highest prosperity of Australia and New South Wales that a patriotic gentleman thought it would be a good thing to a few rabbits into the colony, as aSf-'Would serve for food and for sport. He accord^iy' - itopprted three pairs of rabbits, and they were turned loose. It was not long'before it was found that the distil^.question had been transformed into a gigantic rabbit warren. Indewflyit was discovered that a single ■pair of rabbits, under fa vora,bln circumstances, would In three years Have a progeny numbering 13,718,000. Sir Saul Samuel, in moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said the government of New South Wales had 1,800 schemes sent in when the £25,000 reward was offered, but none of them were really of a practical nature, aud the reward was withdrawn.