NO. I 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I919 



31 



gether, extinct. Diseases have also plajed a great part in the extermination. 

 The native bear died in thousands from a disease which produced a great 

 bony growth on their heads. A mysterious disease also spread through the 

 ranks of the native cat, Dasyiirus vivcrrinus ; the domestic cat also played a 

 great part in their extermination. Even adult specimens of Dasyunis were 

 often dragged in by the family cat. 



" The only mammals caught in traps were A'lus assiiuilis and Phascologalc 

 flavipcs. The others were all shot or snared. As the majority of the mam- 

 mals taken were nocturnal and arboreal, the headlight proved to be a valuable 



Fig. 31. — An Australian marsupial resembling a very 

 large flying squirrel. 



and indispensable part of my outfit. The hunting of kangaroos and wallabies 

 was greatly handicapped through the lack of a rifle. 



" Peramclcs nasuta has been practically exterminated throughout N. S. W., 

 but they are still to be found in Mosman, one of Sydney's suburbs, so I made 

 a trip out there and was able to get a fine female with two young in her pouch. 

 This was trapped inside the Taronga Park Zoo grounds with the kind per- 

 mission of Mr. A. S. Le Soucf. 



"The fact of Pcra)i!clcs iiasitta being found at Mosman is probably due to 

 the isolation of that district from the rest of N. S. W. by the city of Sydney, 

 thus keeping out the introduced foxes. 



