August, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 



macidatus, Kerr, was taken in a rabbit trap. This creature had 

 always been a rare animal our way, and we surmised it came from 

 the scrubby countcy to the north of Sunbury. The black Native 

 Cat is a freak or sport, as I have taken a family of young con- 

 taining both black and grey specimens, the mother being grey. 

 From my experience I fancy the proportion of black to grey 

 Native Cats is about 15 per cent. The pouch of the Dasyure is 

 quite open, and the young appear to be attached to the teats for 

 a certain time ; how long cannot be stated. Then, evidently 

 when too heavy to be carried, the mother deposits them in a grass 

 nest concealed under loose stones, or in a hollow log or such-like. 

 That the Native Cat is a cannibal we proved in our boyhood 

 days. 



The Short-tailed Bandicoot, Perameles, sp. — This animal 

 was not plentiful in 1846, and later became rarer still ; however, 

 twenty years later, it again became numerous with us. In 1883 

 a nest of young was found, since which I have not noticed it. 



The Koala or Native Bear, Phascolarctus cinereiis, Goldf 

 — With us the Native Bear was a rarity, but in the early sixties 

 a specimen was taken, while others visited us at intervals. In 

 1869, when on a visit to Mt. William, near I^ancefield, 25 miles 

 further north, I found them very plentiful. Judging by our obser- 

 vations. Native Bears seem to have the habit of travelling by 

 night across the plains, from one range to another, for we would 

 sometimes find them in the morning on a post, or the roof of an 

 abandoned building. 



The Common Opossum, Trichosuris vulpecula, Kerr. — 

 Owing probably to the visits of the aboriginals, this animal was 

 not plentiful in the early days, but when they ceased to visit the 

 district, about 185 1, Opossums became numerous. Later, when 

 the demand for their skins set in, they became nearly extinct. 

 Of late years they have again increased, but, unfortunately, they 

 get caught in the rabbit traps. On parts of Red Rock station 

 they are, I learn, rather plentiful. 



The Ring-tailed Opossum, Pseudochirus per egr inns, Bodd. — 

 This animal was never plentiful, but is still to be found along 

 Jackson's Creek. 



The Flying Phalanger or Flying Squirrel, Petcmrus 

 breviceps, Waterh— The only specimen I remember was brought 

 in by the cat one day, and by old residents was called the "Sugar 

 Squirrel." 



The Great Brush Squirrel, Petaurus taguanoides, Desm. — 

 Never very plentiful ; some 1 2 years ago I found one drowned 

 in a large dam at Newham. They were more common in the 

 Macedon region, further north, than with us. Mr. W. Thom told 

 me of two albinos he had seen at Bullengarook. 



The Wombat, Phascolomys mitchelli, Owen. —This animal 



