BY EDGAR R. WAITE. 577 



female. I notice in the very old males that the smell from these 

 when cut is almost overpowering." 



Of the sixteen animals previously mentioned, two died before 

 reaching Sydney, an adult female and a half-grown male. These, 

 together with two roughly prepared skins, were offered to the 

 Australian Museum and purchased. 



At the first glance it was appai'ent that the species was perfectly 

 distinct from the Queensland form D. lumholtzi, Collett.* Further 

 examination showed that it could not be reconciled with the 

 descriptions of the Papuan forms D. ursinus, Miiller and Schlegel, 

 D. iii.uslus, M. and S., and D. dorianus, Ramsay. 



We find the animal again incidentally mentioned in the P. Z. S. 1873, 

 p. 518, as follows : — " A letter was read from Dr. G. Bennett, referring to 

 the supposed existence of a species of Tree Kangaroo ( Dendrohujiis) in 

 Northern Queensland, some such animal being appaiently j^vell known to 

 the blacks of Cardwell, Mr. Sclater remarked that this might account for 

 the stories of the supposed ' Native Tiger' in the same country." 



Dr. Bennett evidently also inclined to this opLuion, for in P. Z. S. 1885, 

 p. 65, while writing about the Tree Kangaroo he says : — " ... I may 

 further remark that the size and deep scratches observed on the bark of the 

 trees, gave rise to a report that a tigerdike animal was to be found in 

 Northern Queensland, as no one believed that kangai'oos could climb trees, 

 being ignorant of the existence of arboreal kangaroos in New Guinea. . ." 



That the scratchings were caused by Tree Kangaroos is probably correct, 

 but that the ■■icratchings gave rise to such a report is, as we may see by the 

 passages quoted, quite incorrect. It is positively asserted by the blacks 

 over wide-spread districts, that some large carnivorous animal does exist in 

 the higher part of the ranges, but nothing can induce them to visit these 

 spots on account of the dread in which thej' hold the animal. As is well 

 known, the natives believe in certain mythical creatures, the Bunyip for 

 example, but which none claim to have ever seen. Respecting the "Tiger," 

 however, collector's and settlers have met several blacks who affirm that they 

 have seen the animal, and agree in describing it as large, with a big mouth 

 and teeth. 



Mr. Broadbent was specially deputed by the Queensland Museum to 

 investigate the subject, but after much search he concluded that the animal 

 was a myth, probably founded on particularly large Dasyures. 



Considering how long other creatures have remained unknown, it is quite 

 reasonable to suppose that such an animal may yet be found inhabiting the 

 * Proc. Zool. Soc. 1884, p. 387. 



