"^ig"o'] Weindorfhr AND Fkanxis, Wild Life in Tasmania. 19 



animal it also seems to have a partiality for small birds, and 

 follows its victims into trees, though, like its congener, it is 

 not an expert at climbing. It is a common nuisance in and 

 around camps, and will pay its nightly visits without regard 

 to watch-dogs. Having had its fill, it will, as likely as not, 

 make itself comfortable under a bunk in whicb one is slt'eping, 

 and after the manner of a house cat, with which it lias nuicli 

 in common, will indulge in a contented purr. 



Chased b}' dogs, like the Tiger Cat it will rely on i\\v trick 

 of doubling until it manages to find a safe haven in a hnlt- in 

 the ground or a hollow log. Safe in some such haven, it will 

 turn and defy its enemies, uttering sounds not unlike those 

 produced by the cracking of nuts in quick succession. 



It has no definite home, and one may frequently find the 

 animal out in daytime, either asleep in some cosy corner or on 

 business bent. It has been observed that its condition is 

 invariably poor in summer, but fat in winter, the explanation 

 being that in all likelihood its prey is more easily caught in the 

 severer season. 



The embryos appear in the pouch about the month of July, 

 and, as is the case with the Tiger Cat, the pouch, after the 

 young are reared, seems to disappear. Thus, on a casual glance, 

 the "animal does not look like a marsupial. \\'hether it lives 

 in pairs cannot be definitely stated, but male and female and 

 their six young have been caught in succession by one and 

 the same trap. From this one may venture to conclude that 

 in all probability the young are instructed in their ways of 

 life by their parents. The young seem to be kept in seclusion, 

 after the manner of the Tiger 'Cat, for a considerable time, for, 

 as a rule, they are never seen or caught unless far advanced 

 in growth, and therefore must be supplied with the necessary 

 f(K)d during their early months by one or both of their parents. 

 The Native Cat is a far less cautious and suspicious animal 

 than its bigger congener, and the sudden appearance of the 

 acetylene lamp will cause it to sit down on its haunches and 

 irresistibly stare into the light, apparently being at the same 

 time oblivious of the danger threatening from the direction 

 of the dogs. Into steel and bo.x traps they appear to walk 

 without hesitation, and, to induce them to do this, a common 

 practice of trappers is to drag the carcass of a kangaroo 

 over the places where these are set. Caught in a trap, it behaves 

 something like the Tiger Cat, but with less success. After an 

 attempt to regain its freedom it appears to accept the inevit- 

 able, and, if the position allows of it, will even fall asKij>. (^ne, 

 which was found to be a female, was even obsi-rvrd to be 

 anxit>us to retain its feline attractiveness by cleaning its head 

 and face with its paws, much after the fashion <>f tlu' house rat. 



