﻿THE DASYURES. 1 59 



or orange tinge, and with large white spots ; under-parts white or 

 pale yellow. Ears rather short or very thinly haired. Hind 

 feet with the first toe, or hallux, present ; claws of both feet 

 large and powerful. Tail very long, brown or rufous brown, 

 and spotted like the body. Six teats. Length of head and 

 body about 25 inches; of tail 19 inches. 



Externally this species may be distinguished from all the 

 other members of the genus by its large size and spotted tail ; 

 while it is farther characterised by the presence of well-defined 

 and transversely striated pads on the soles of the feet. Its 

 skull differs from that of every other species by the auditory 

 or tympanic bullae at the base of the aperture of the internal 

 ear being obliquely oval, instead of spherical. 



Distribution. — From Central Queensland to Victoria, princi- 

 pally on the mountain ranges, but extending to the coast and 

 Tasmania. In commenting on its distribution, Mr. Thomas 

 observes that " the commonness of this species in Tasmania 

 and its great rarity on the Continent are of interest as 

 showing that it is appproaching the condition now exhibited 

 by the Thylacine and Tasmanian Devil, namely, complete ex- 

 termination in Australia, where both once lived, and continued 

 preservation in the island of Tasmania. Why the small 

 island of Tasmania should be able to support in considerable 

 numbers the three largest carnivorous Marsupials, competing 

 probably, to a certain extent, with each other, while they have 

 been almost or wholly unable to survive on the mainland, is a 

 problem which much requires elucidation. The presence of 

 the Dingo in Australia is no doubt one of the causes that have 

 tended to produce this remarkable state of affairs." 



To this statement Mr. Ogilby replies by traversing the asser- 

 tion that the species under consideration is rare on the Austra- 

 lian mainland. " As a matter of fact," he writes, "/). maailatus 

 is by no means uncommon — nor seemingly has it any present 



