4 VERTEBRATA OF THE LOWER MURRAY, 



It is strictly nocturnal, and was often observed after sundown, 

 gambolling upon the shores of that beautiful lake. The Black 

 Snake is a sore enemy to the young progeny of this Hydromys ; 

 for I captured a specimen, which, upon being opened, proved to 

 have swallowed a full dozen young Beaver Rats, about the size 

 of new-born kittens. 



This Bat is not found on the Lower Darling, at least, I was 

 assured by the natives that they had never seen it. 



2. HAPALOTIS CONDITOE. 

 Building Hapalotis. 

 Koel or Kohl of the natives. 



Captain Sturt described this animal first, though Sir Thomas 

 Mitchell mentioned it before him. 



It is one of the many species which will soon be extinct, as 

 I found that it had already retreated before the herds of sheep 

 and cattle across the Murray. Only a few empty nests were 

 occasionally met with south of that river. The few specimens 

 collected were captured by the natives about 10 miles north of 

 the Darling Junction ; though many empty nests, or rather huts, 

 were met with, occupied by Hapalotis apicalis, which, it appears, 

 often takes a fancy to the roomy structures of the building 

 Hapaloiis, and ejects the original inhabitant. I kept both 

 species together in a box, but they never agreed, and, though 

 the building Hapalotis is much larger in size, it could never hold 

 its own against Hapalotis apicalis. They feed on various seeds, 

 bulbous roots, insects, and the smaller species of Hapalotis, or 

 birds' eggs, &c., and bring forth 4 young at a time. 



3. HAPALOTIS APICALIS. 

 White-tipped Hapalotis. 

 Tillikin of the natives. 



Mr. Gould figures this species, of which he mentions merely 

 that he received it from South Australia. I observed the first 

 specimens in the neighbourhood of Euston, and found it in great 

 numbers upon Sir Thomas Mitchell's old track on both sides of 

 the Murray. It also occurs on the Darling, and I have no doubt 



