THE DASYURES. 159 
or orange tinge, and with large white spots ; under-parts white or 
pale yellow. lars 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 further 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 bull 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 tle 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, “ D. maculatus 
is by no means uncommon—nor seemingly has it any present 
