BY GERARD KREFFT. 11 



7. PODABRUS CEASSICAUDATUS. 



Thick-tailed Podabrus. 

 Mondellundellun (native name.) 



All the specimens of this species ever sent to Europe came 

 from the West coast of this continent ; but as I have obtained 

 specimens fronf various parts of the Murray River, I doubt not 

 that it inhabits the intervening country between the Swan River 

 colony and New South Wales. I have never seen this hand- 

 some little Podabrus from the eastern part of Australia, 

 though a species with a much longer tail (Podabrus macurus) 

 occurs in the neighbourhood of Brisbane, and further north. I 

 have kept several specimens alive for months, but always 

 found it necessary to separate them on account of their 

 ferocity. I have more than once lost a number of valuable 

 Rodents through inadvertently adding a Podabrus, or any 

 species of Antechinus to them ; they fall upon the poor mice 

 immediately, and kill many more than they can possibly eat. 

 If not supplied with food, they attack and devour each other. 



Females, which the natives brought in July and August, had 

 from 6 to 9 young ones in the rather shallow pouch. The 

 number of teats is 10 ; and, as I found several with the whole 

 number in milk, I believe that as many as 10 young are brought 

 forth at a birth. 



All the species of the genus Antechinus are rather sensitive 

 to cold ; and, when the thermometer fell as low as 30 a great 

 many perished. 



Beyond a hoarse screech, I never noticed any voice. A 

 singular peculiarity in all the Dasyuridae is, that they carry their 

 ears folded down, never erect, when alive : and, though I do not 

 want to find fault with Gould's beautiful work, I must say, that, 

 in this respect, the representations he gives of this tribe of the 

 animals of Australia are not over true to nature. 



8. MYRMECOBITJS FASCIATUS. 

 Banded Myrmecobius. 



This singular animal which also inhabits the Plains border- 

 ing on the Murray and Darling, is not found close to the first 



