Subject: Re: Cats versus birds
Date: Feb 26 15:03:08 1998
From: ian paulsen - ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us


Dear Tom;
Perhaps you are referring to the Stephens Island Wren (Xenicus lyalli)
formerly occurring on this island of New Zealand. It was discovered by a
lighthouse keeper named Lyall or to be more precise, it was discovered by
one of Lyall's cats. A number of factors led to the extinction of this
species: the cats, collectors wanting specimens, and forest clearcutting.
12 museum specimens of this species is all that is left of this species.
For more details on this species see "Song of the Dodo" By David Quammen,
pages 379-80.
Sincerely
Ian Paulsen


On Thu, 26 Feb 1998, Tom Foote wrote:

>
> On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, S&C Richardson wrote:
>
>
> [snip..]
> >
> > These incidents were local extinctions. I don't know if any bird species
> > extinction has come about due to cats alone.
> >
> Scott--
>
> I vaguely remember something about a lighthouse keeper's
> cat wiping out a particular sparrow.. (excuse the faulty
> memory, if that's in error)
>
> Tom
>