34 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



seen occasionally in the eastern part of the state. Further informa- 

 tion is supplied by Fleay (1932, pp. 63-66) : 



From accounts supplied by people of these localities [about Lake Coranga- 

 mite], the animals were not affected by the mysterious disease which an- 

 nihilated many marsupials in other parts of the country in the first years of 

 this century. Though still well known, however, they are becoming scarce, 

 with the continuous work of rabbiters' dogs and traps, and the increase in 

 settlement. . . . 



The adult males supported a host of parasites, and, when first brought to 

 Melbourne, before being treated, they possessed numerous large ticks, sores 

 infested with fly larvae, and the peculiar flea (Stephanocercus dasyuri) ; 

 while investigations on Dasyures which had been caught in rabbit traps 

 showed numerous nematode worms internally. 



On Kangaroo Island, South Australia, the species seems to have 

 disappeared (Waite and Jones, 1927, p. 322) . 



In Tasmania it has fared better than in Australia. "The common 

 Dasyure ... is to be met with in many localities in spite of the 

 warfare waged against them in return for the toll they take of the 

 settlers' poultry. In this respect, however, they cannot be con- 

 sidered so destructive as the Tiger Cat' [D. maculatus]" (Lord 

 and Scott, 1924, p. 270.) "The Dasyure is scattered throughout 

 Tasmania, and still is very plentiful. This marsupial does not seem 

 to either increase or decrease." (R. Boswell, in litt., May 13, 1937.) 



Despite Jones's statement (1923, p. 92) that "the animal's skin is 

 of no commercial value," there evidently was a demand for it in 

 former years. Lydekker writes (1894, p. 164) : "The fur being soft, 

 the skins are suitable for linings; and from two to five thousand 

 skins are annually imported into England. Formerly the grey skins 

 fetched from about fivepence to sixpence each in the market, while 

 the value of the black ones ranged from tenpence to a shilling. Of 

 late years, however, there has been a fall in the price." 



The species is now under complete legal protection in Victoria 

 and in Tasmania. 



Geoffrey's Native Cat; Black-tail CM! Native Cat 



DASYURUS GBOFFROII GEOFFROII Gould 



Dasyurus Geoffroii Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1840, p. 151, 1841. ("Liver- 

 pool Plains/' New South Wales.) 

 FIGS.: Gould, 1851, vol. 1, pi. 51; Cabrera, 1919, pi. 4, fig. 2. 



The typical subspecies of Geoffrey's Native Cat seems to have 

 become extinct over the greater part of its range, but it may sur- 

 vive in parts of New South Wales and Queensland. 



General color fuscous, washed with yellow; head, back, and sides 

 with white spots, smaller than those in D. viverrinus and D. macu- 



