June,! \Vj;indokfek AM) Francis, Wild Life in Tasmania. 15 



1920 J ■' ■' 



and thus its run will begin a few feet up. Besides, tlie possum 

 being tlie far larger animal of the two, its run will appear 

 correspondingly wider. 



Like most animals, the Ring-tail is a good swimmer, though 

 it has not been known to take to the water deliberately. It 

 is free of vermin, unless perhaps of microscopic size, l')ut is in- 

 variably infected with a long and yellow tape-worm, which, 

 however, does not scx'm to affect its general condition. A 

 disease giving no outwaid signs of its presence, in a varying 

 degree constantly takes toll among its numbers, as is evidenced 

 by frequent finds of dead animals in the bush. Occasionally 

 so virulent is the disease that very few are left alive. Such a 

 visitation occurred at Middlesex about the year 1012, but did 

 not extend to the higher elevations of the Cradle Mountain. 

 Frequently the fur on the rump, extending even somewhat 

 down along the butt end of the tail, has a worn appearance, 

 and to this the trade has applied the name " joey-ridden," 

 attributing the defect to the fact that in climbing the tree the 

 young cling to their parents' back and so cause eventually the 

 disfigurement. Since conditions of this kind may be noticed 

 on individuals at any time of the year, it may be safely pre- 

 sumed that the young have nothing to do with the matter, 

 and that the occurrence must l)e attributed to some other cause. 

 In any case, in this district it is of rare occurrence. 



The Ring-tail has a penetrating odour, which may be likened 

 to a mixture of eucalyptus and stale fat, and this is sometimes 

 so strong that on a quiet, windless night, on walking under a 

 tree, one may suspect in it the presence of the little animal. 

 Its liesh, however, when cooked in form oi a stew, has none 

 of this odour, and bears favourable comparison with chicken. 



Ring-tails arc tamed as easily as wombats, but, unliki; this 

 animal, prefer unrestricted freedom. Its fur has until lati'ly 

 been regarded only as a second-class article, but lately has 

 conn- more and more into favour. Some years ago the price 

 paid to tlie lumter did not e.\c.(H(l ()S. per dozen, whereas at 

 the present the}' may realize up to 35s. 



Tkichosurus vulpecula, vah. FiLiGixosus, Ogii.bv. 



Tasmanian Phalanger or Brush Possum, commonly known 

 to' the trade under the name of '' Brush." Clive \i. Lord, in 

 his " Notes on the Mannnals of Tasmania," i()i8, i)age j(), in 

 describing the species, says : — " It is sometimes questioned if 

 we have not two species, but I jirefer to treat them as one. In 

 this connection see notes by l\on;il(l Cuini, i)agt' 84, P. mid P. 

 Roval S(H\ Tas., 1852." 



Ill till' Middlesex ;niil ("i,i<lle Mountain district there exists 

 only oiu: .species, but the fur varies from light grey to dark 



