12 \Veindoki-i:k and Francis, Wild Life in Tasniauici. [ v„i.'n"xxv'ii. 



WILD Lll'l-: IN TASMANIA. 



By G. Weindokfek and Cr. Francis. 



(Communicated by Dr. C. S. Sutton.) 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, Sth Dec, 1910.) 



{Continued from page 8.) 



Like its congener, the Rnfous-bellied Wallaby breeds only 

 once a year, and at about lln- same srason, and its young 

 make excellent pets until the wild ultimately calls them. At 

 first tluy will stay away a^ night, coming back again in the 

 morning, and again will absent themselves for one or two nights, 

 or even a week, until at last they will be seen no more. 



That it is an excellent swimmer is beyond doubt. On one 

 occasion, when harassed by dogs, a wallaby took to a rushing 

 torrent, and in attempting to cross was sucked under a log 

 and disappeared from view, but soon reappea.r(Hl, and after 

 a short struggle safely landed on the opposite bank, Icaxing 

 the pair of dogs howling with disappointment. 



About the year 1890 a disease broken out amongst tlu' 

 wallabies at Middlesex, which killed the animals in such 

 numbers that it was thought tlu-y had been ([uite exterminated. 

 All over the bush their dead bodies could be found, without 

 any apparent traces of the disease. Ho\ve\-cr, later on they 

 slowly increased again in numbers, and e\-entuall\' Ix'canu; 

 more numerous than before. 



The meat of the wallaby is not unlike that of kangaroo, 

 though the bush connoisseur will declare that its Havour is 

 somewhat stronger. Like the kangaroo, it offers shelter to 

 the same vermin, but in a lesser degree. Its hides command 

 practically the same prices as those of kangaroos. 



Tasmanian 1\in(.-taii. Phai.an(;i:r, or Posstm, commonly 

 KNOWN AS ■' KiN(;-TAn.," PsKiDOCHiRrs cooKi, Dks. 



Amongst the bush animals the Ring-tail holds the distinction 

 of being the most respectable, for, from appearances, it marries 

 for life. Whereas there are no indications amongst all the other 

 mammals dealt with in this paper that the mali' shares with his 

 chosen mate the care of their offsjiring. the king-tail p;iir will, 

 from the moment that they have matetl, together build their 

 house and rear their young, which on rare occasions may 

 number as many as three in the j)ouch. 



The male, unlike so many other animals of the bush, is a 

 peaceful animal, showing no pugnacity even diuMng the ])airing 

 season, in late spring. In numbers the males ajjpear to pre- 

 dominate, for one hardly ever finds a solitary Ring-tail female, 

 unless, perhaps, its mate has fallen a victim t(» the hunter, to 

 disease, <»r other circumstances. Such mahs ;m f.iil to secure 



