!83 



Further Notes on the Habits and Anatomy 

 of notoryctes typhlops. 



By E. C. Stirling, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S., Eng., C.M.Z.8., 



Lecturer on Physiology in the Unicer4ty of Adelaide, Hon. 

 Director of the South A^ixtrcdian Mu>ieum. 



[Read October 6, 1891.] 



Plate XII. 



Mr. Bishop, of the Idracowra Station, to whom I have ex- 

 pressed myself indebted for many interesting facts concerning- 

 the habits of Notary ctes typ]do2)s, has been good enough to supply 

 me with further information on the subject since the date of our 

 meeting in Central Australia in June, 1891. 



It may be remembei'ed that in my previous communication to 

 this Society (vol. XI Y., pt. 1)1 mentioned that, up to the time 

 of its publication, it had not been found possible in any case to 

 keep a living specimen in captivity for more than a very short 

 time. Shortly after our overland party had passed through the 

 Idracowra country, however, Mr. Bishop was able, by careful 

 management, to keep one alive and in good health for several 

 weeks — indeed, so successful was he in meeting its requirements, 

 that he expressed himself confident of being able to bring a 

 living specimen to Adelaide. This, how^ever, was unfortunately 

 not to be, for in spite of all the care devoted to it, the little 

 animal died before its owner could make his intended visit south- 

 wards. Nevertheless, the comparatively lengthened period of its 

 captivity gave excellent opportunities for some careful observa- 

 tions, which are now recorded here. 



From the contents of Mr. Bishop's letters to me, I compile the 

 following statement by way of supplement to the particulars 

 given in the paper referred to : — 



Having had a living specimen brought to him on the loth 

 June, he kept it in a box of sand, in which was placed a tussock 

 of porcupine grass (Triodia irritant), so as to imitate its natural 

 surroundings as nearly as possible. At the same time precau- 

 tions against exposure to cold were taken by covering up the 

 box with blankets, and the sand in the box was frequently 

 changed, the fresh supply being first warmed and moistened. It 

 was fed on the " witchety " previously referred to, two or three small 



