176 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. ~ 
Dwelling like its allies in trees, it makes its nest in the hollows : 
of their trunks and branches, and feeds chiefly upon insects. 
In some districts it is so bold as to enter the houses of the 
colonists, by whom (whether justly or unjustly, we know not) ' 
it is accused of killing their poultry. From the large number 
of its teats, this species is doubtless a very prolific animal, § 
although it does not appear to be ascertained whether it breeds 
more than once during the year. 
A widely distributed species, it is found, according to Krefft, 
occasionally even in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and extends 
its range right across the Continent to the west coast; it is, 
however, very rare in the neighbourhood of the Murray river. 
In its general habits it is probably very similar to the next 
species, which is generally found in the hollow stems of trees. 
Of some specimens kept in confinement, Krefft writes that 
their movements were Cat-like, but very graceful; and that the 
animal resembled all the other members of the genus in being ° 
strictly nocturnal. On one specimen of P. ca/ura, with ten ‘ 
teats, eight young ones were observed tightly clinging thereto, 
being concealed by the long hair on the under surface of their ! 
parent’s body. 
XIII. LESSER BRUSH-TAILED POUCHED MOUSE. PHASCOLOGALE 
CALURA. 
Phasctologale calura, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1844, p. 1043 * 
Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 296 (1888). 
Characters.—Size medium ; form slender; fur long, soft and 
fine. General colour grey, with a faint rufous tinge; under- ( 
parts white Ears very large, almost naked, with well-marked , 
tufts of red hair at the base. Feet white; soles of hind feet ; 
with five pads, that of the hallux being elongated, but un- 
divided ; claws small and weak. ‘Tail long, the basal half 
