THE TASMANIAN THYLACINE 23 1 



T\\^ future of the thylacine, owing to its destructive- 

 ness, points to eventual extermination. Means were 

 found to add to the specimen which died at 

 Melbourne in 1900 further specimens obtained in the 

 same year: and although another died during the 

 following twelvemonth two more were purchased as 

 late as 1902. Thus it seems at present possible to 

 promptly replace any dead specimens in local 

 (Australasian) collections. Carpe diem. Either 

 certain of the wilder districts yet unappropriated by 

 man should be set aside by Government as animal 

 reserves, within which all shooting should be 

 absolutely forbidden ; or private individuals should 

 undertake that less satisfactory method of preser- 

 vation — the foundation of a menagerie stock on a 

 line with the Pere David's deer, an all but extinct 

 Chinese species maintained on a private estate in 

 England. It must be remembered that as late as 

 1893 much of the central table-land of Tasmania was 

 uninhabited and even unexplored ; a preserved tract 

 of forest and waterfall, snow-capped mountains and 

 ferny covert would surely constitute an ideal 

 sanctuary for the thylacine. This natural retreat 

 would be far more satisfactory (save perhaps to the 

 stock farmer) than an artificial one ; menagerie races 

 are apt to detoriorate for lack of new blood, and 

 dwindling gradually in stamina eventually exhibit 

 that fatal sign — undue preponderance of male 

 offspring in the litters. On the other hand, it 



