stralia has a new
pest, also acquired by importation of an alien species. It is the
European fox (_Vulpes vulpes_). The only redeeming feature about this
fresh calamity is found in the fact that the species was not
deliberately introduced into Australia for the benefit of the local
fauna. Mr. O.W. Rosenhain, of Melbourne, informs me (1912) that about
thirty years ago the Hunt Club brought to Australia about twenty foxes,
for the promotion of the noble sport of fox hunting. In some untoward
manner, the most of those animals escaped. They survived, multiplied,
and have provided New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia with a
fox pest of the first rank.

The destruction of wild bird life and poultry has become so serious that
Australia now is making vigorous efforts to exterminate the pest. The
government pays ten shillings bounty on fox scalps, besides which each
prime fox skin is worth from four to five dollars. It is hoped that
these combined values will eliminate the fox pest.

Regarding foxes in Australia, Mr. W.H.D. Le Souef has this to say in his
extremely interesting and valuable book, "Wild Life in Australia," page
146:

"We found that foxes were unfortunately plentiful in this district, and
in a hollow log that served to shelter some cubs were noticed the
remains of ducks, fowls, rabbits, lambs, bandicoots and snakes; so they
evidently vary their fare, snakes even not coming amiss. They also sneak
on wild ducks that are nesting by the edge of the water among the rushes
and tussocky grass, and catch quail also, especially sitting birds.
_These animals are, and always will be, a great source of trouble in the
thickly timbered country and stony ranges, and will gradually, like the
rabbit, extend all over Australia_. They are evidently not contented
with ground game only, as Mr. A.F. Kelly, of Barwonleigh, in Victoria,
states: "When riding past a bull-oak tree about twenty-five feet high,
with either a magpie's or crow's nest on top. I noticed the nest looked
very bulky, and had something red in it. On going nearer I saw a large
fox coiled up in it!"

THE MONGOOSE.--Circumstances alter cases, and a change of environment
sometimes works marvelous changes in the character of an animal species.
Now, _why_ should not the gray Indian mongoose (formerly called the
ichneumon, _(Herpestes griscus_)) destroy poultry in India, as it does
elsewhere? There is poultry in plenty to be destroyed, but
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" el