ORDER MARSUPIALIA: MARSUPIALS 115 



laroo, for instance, but is now quite unknown in the vicinity of the first place 

 and on the second has become rare. . . . 



Typical of the whiptail habitats are the beautiful undulating upland parks 

 of the broad-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophlora) .... As a character- 

 istic example of this type of country might be cited the Grevillea plateau, 

 where parryi [=eleaans] is still in very large numbers. . . . 



It is distinctly social in habit, and very likely truly gregarious, though it 

 would take closer and more prolonged observation than I was able to give 

 to determine the point. It certainly camps in rather large parties, 12 or 15 

 being frequently seen lying up together, but in the late afternoon, when 

 feeding begins in earnest, there is a tendency, I believe, for the larger males 

 and females to go off in pairs. At Drumburle, where I watched it most, they 

 were so numerous, however, that towards evening whole hillsides were dotted 

 with the members of these disbanded camps, and it was impossible to make 

 out the existence of any natural grouping. Old males are always solitary, 

 as in many other species. . . . 



Like so many mammals living in open country they are very curious, and 

 their curiosity has earned them a reputation for stupidity amongst trappers 

 and shooters. It is said by such, that in winter when large "mobs" congre- 

 gate on the sunny side of the ridges, a dozen may be shot down one by one 

 before the rest make up their minds to go, provided the shooter does not 

 move from his position. 



Locally it is regarded as an extremely fast wallaby, but as it is not hunted 

 with dogs to any extent, it is difficult to get data for comparison with other 

 species. . . . 



In considering the future of this wallaby in Queensland, there are sound 

 reasons for anxiety. It is true that it is still numerous over a large area, but 

 no one with any knowledge of the fate of open country species elsewhere 

 would maintain that it will long survive the present rate of slaughter in the 

 cattle country of the Dawson. Where man is concerned its instinct for 

 self-preservation is almost nil, and as its colouration and habits make it a 

 most conspicuous animal at any time, its destruction is almost a mechanical 

 matter. It is very probable that the scores of thousands of whiptails which 

 are killed every year in coastal Queensland, represent, not the natural increase, 

 as is assumed locally, but rather the natural drainage of the species from 

 large areas of relatively poor feeding grounds into smaller areas which are 

 more attractive to it and which will support a denser population. When the 

 country is settled these "fur pockets" act as natural traps, and destruction 

 which appears to be local actually affects a much wider area, indirectly. 

 It is this factor of natural concentration which is largely responsible for the 

 element of unexpected suddenness which often marks the extinction of mammal 

 species before advancing settlement. 



M. parryi is one of the most beautiful of Australian mammals, and is one 

 of the very few species which can be easily and freely observed under natural 

 conditions. It is to be hoped that its value will be recognised while there 

 is still time. 



E. Le G. Troughton writes (in Hit., April 16, 1937) that this 

 nearest eastern ally of the extinct Toolach was once plentiful in the 

 more open coastal country from north of Sydney to the Rockhamp- 

 ton district of Queensland. It is becoming rare owing to the natural 

 shrinkage of habitat with settlement and to destruction for "sport" 

 and profit. It is more beautiful and observable than most species 

 and requires total continued protection to ensure its survival. 



