8 VERTEBRATA OF THE LOWER MURRAY, 



is no better remedy than to procure a few young Dasyuri, which 

 having been kept on the ground for a few months, and turned 

 out into the store-house, will soon " effect a clearance." 



The range of this species extends, according to Grould, as far 

 as the West Coast. 



The Natives inhabiting the country near the junction of the 

 Darling, have some superstitions regarding this animal, and 

 " Jacob," an old chief on the River, often assured me, that 

 " Kettrie make rain and rainbow." As his kinsmen are not fond 

 of rain, I suppose they kill as many Kettries as possible. 



2. PHASCOGALE CALURA. 



Handsome tailed Phascogale. 

 Kultarr, (native name.) 



This is without doubt the most handsome species of the genus. 

 It is ashy grey above, white underneath, with long bushy 

 black tail, the upper half of the basal part of which is of a rich 

 chesnut colour. 



The few specimens which have found their way to Europe 

 were procured at the Williams River, Western Australia ; but 

 when the intervening country between the Murray River and the 

 West coast is better known to Naturalists, it will probably be found 

 that the range of this beautiful creature extends over the larger 

 half of the continent. The few specimens brought to me by the 

 natives were generally found in hollow limbs of trees. I kept 

 several alive for a considerable time, feeding them with live mice 

 or small birds. Their movements were cat-like, but very grace- 

 ful ; like all the members of this genus they are strictly nocturnal 

 in their habits. A female specimen, caught in the beginning of 

 June, had 8 very small young ones attached to the teats, which 

 were 10 in number : no regular pouch was observable, the long 

 hair only covering the young progeny. 



My specimens were captured near Williams' Station, Gol 

 Gol Creek, about 10 miles from the Darling Junction. 



3. PHASCOGALE PENICILLATA. 

 Brush-tailed Phascogale. 



This species, nearly allied to P. calura is, no doubt, still more 

 widely distributed. It is occasionally found in the neighbour- 



