NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 349 



Mr. Edgar R. Waite exhibited a female Pouched Mouse and 

 her eight young ones, Phascologale Jlavijje:^^ Waterhouse ; and 

 contributed the following note on the nidification of this 

 species. So little has been recorded of the breeding habits 

 of the pouched mice that the following extract from my 

 note book dated November 23rd, 1893, and referring to the 

 examples now exhibited, may be- of interest. The mice were 

 obtained at Berowera Creek, an arm of the River Hawkesbury. 

 Clambering up a rocky slope, T noticed that one of the weathered 

 holes, so common in the sandstone boulders of the district, was 

 crowded with dry leaves. The hole was in a vertical face of the 

 boulder about four feet from the ground, and as the leaves, all of 

 Eucalypts, were regularly placed in a compact mass, I began to poke 

 them out When a hat-full had been removed a rustling was heard 

 within, and further leaves were cautiously withdrawn. A little 

 snout and a pair of sparkling eyes appeared for a moment, and 

 while, removing more leaves, of which there seemed to be no end, 

 the owner rushed out and was climbing up the perpendicular face 

 of the rock when secured. It was a half grown Phascologale 

 Jlavipes, and as the hole was evidently not merely a retreat but 

 probably contained an actual nest, I continued to remove the 

 leaves. Scutterings within indicated that the occupants were 

 in some number. The nest was finally reached and contained 

 two young ones the size of the one first caught. It was composed 

 entirely of Eucalypt leaves and was completely domed over, but 

 fell to pieces when handled, as the leaves were not secured 

 together in any way. A larger, and evidently the mother mouse, 

 came to the opening for an instant unaccompanied : almost 

 immediately she reappeared and left the hole, this time with some 

 young ones clinging to her back. Although thus heavily 

 weighted she nearly escaped me. She ran under a horizontal 

 slab of rock and clung like a fly, back downwards. When 

 secured it was found that she had four young ones clinging to 

 her, which together must have equalled more than her own weight. 

 On removing the mouselings it was seen that each had a tuft of 

 fur in its mouth, showing how they had retained their hold. I 



