ORDER MARSUPIALIA: MARSUPIALS 63 



"There is much virgin scrubland in Gippsland in which the small 

 creature could survive. It is nocturnal in habits, and its general 

 resemblance to Petaurus breviceps is close enough to make its recog- 

 nition by evening light very difficult. When these facts are con- 

 sidered, the possibility of its survival is greater than might at first 

 be realised, and it is probable that a systematic search would re- 

 establish this small creature among the living animals of Victoria." 

 (Brazenor, 1932, p. 109.) More recently Mr. Brazenor has come 

 to the conclusion (in litt., March 3, 1937) that it is "probably 

 extinct." 



"The risk of extermination for small unexploitable opossum forms 

 of restricted range is indicated by the fate of Leadbeater's opossum 

 . . . , an important phalangerid link, originally restricted to a small 

 area of Victoria where denudation of its limited scrub habitat 

 has apparently led to the animals' extinction. This unique mar- 

 supial is represented by barely a dozen specimens in state museums." 

 (Troughton, 1938, p. 408.) 



Presumably Leadbeater's Opossum has been subject 'to attack by 

 the Domestic Cat and perhaps other introduced enemies. It is also 

 quite possible that many specimens have fallen victims to opossum 

 trappers who did not differentiate them or at any rate did not 

 realize their exceptional value. 



Some of the numerous government reserves that have been 

 established in Victoria might provide sanctuary for this unique 

 animal if it were still extant. 



Western Ringtail; Western Ring-tailed Opossum 



PSEUDOCHEIRUS OCCIDENTALIS (Thomas) 



Pseudochirus occidentalis Thomas, Cat. Marsupialia and Monotremata Brit. 

 Mus., p. 174, 1888. ("King George's Sound, W. A.") 



This animal, confined to the extreme southwest of Western 

 Australia, is feared to be on the verge of extinction. 



Color above deep smoky gray; limbs like back, but hands and 

 feet darker; under parts white; basal part of tail dark brown, 

 terminal two-fifths white, naked part below tip smooth. Head and 

 body, 335 mm.; tail, 310 mm. (Thomas, 1888, pp. 174-175.) 



Nearly a hundred years ago Gould's collector, John Gilbert, 

 obtained specimens at Perth, Swan River, and King George's Sound. 

 More recently Shortridge (1910, pp. 827-829) collected 22 specimens 

 at Margaret River and Busselton, remarking that it is "chiefly 

 confined to the banks of rivers and swamps in the South-West; 

 local, and apparently disappearing in many places." Yet he con- 

 sidered it "fairly plentiful near the Margaret River." These few 



