60 MOUNT KOSCIUSKO AND AUSTRALIAN ALPS 



mountains. The whole region abounds with mouse and 

 rat-like animals that belong to very different genera to 

 those small rodents. The pouched-mouse, for instance, 

 has superficially so much the appearance of a mouse that 

 its popular name is quite justified. The pouched-mouse 

 (Sminthopsis murina), and another species which I have not 

 identified, are very abundant in the Alps, ascending to 

 the summits in most places, a height of at least four 

 thousand feet above the sea. Usually described as insecti- 

 vorous, they are really as omnivorous as the common 

 European mouse, and I have caught many of them in traps 

 baited with cheese, bacon-rind, and similar baits. They 

 will also nibble bread, but if an attempt is made to feed 

 captive specimens on such diet, they soon die. They will 

 eat meat both raw and cooked, preferring the former, and 

 are very fond of fat, particularly mutton-suet. In a wild 

 state they eat most kinds of insects, but coleoptera and 

 slugs form the bulk of their food. 



The pouched-mouse varies its habits with its locality. 

 In the mountains it harbours about fallen and decayed 

 timber, being very timid and shy. It is to a great extent 

 nocturnal, especially in the open plain country, where it 

 lives in the bush. It is more active than the European 

 mouse, makes a neat nest of grass lined with fine fibres, 

 and has from five to seven young at a birth, which are not 

 placed in the nest, but carried in a pouch which is large 

 compared with the size of the animal. 



The native cat (Dasyurus viverrinus) is found at the 

 base of the Kosciusko, but is a scarce animal in most parts 

 of the Alps. This curious and handsome little animal is 

 of a darkish colour spotted all over with white blotches. 

 It does not at all resemble a cat. Except that it is a 

 marsupial, it is much more like a pole-cat, especially in its 

 habits. It is a fierce little animal, and those that I have 

 kept were dangerous pets, and never reconciled themselves 

 to captivity. It is a thorough beast of prey, and attacks 

 any animal it is strong enough to overcome, the exotic 

 rabbit excepted, and it is singular that the latter pest 

 appears to have no enemies in the country. The usual 



