1906.] MAMMALS FROM SOUTH-WEST AUSTRALIA. 469 



comparable Vi-'ith that occurring in Central Australia, the region 

 of Notoryctes. 



But even in the fertile south-west area, although the country- 

 supports a mammal-fauna rich in individuals, that richness is 

 unfortunately now largely made up of introduced animals — cats, 

 rabbits, rats, and mice, which appear to be the dominant 

 members of the fauna at most places. Many of the smaller 

 species, found in numbers by Mr. Gilbert in 1842, wOuld seem 

 to have been almost or quite exterminated by these introduced 

 pests, and Mr. IShortridge has had great difficulty in catching any 

 but the latter. 



The following extract from a letter of his from Beverley will 

 give some idea of the character of the country and his trapping 

 experiences : — 



" There are so many trappers about that I am beginning to 

 get a good idea of the distribution of most of the larger mammals. 

 With the exception of PseiulocJiirus occidentalism I think I have 

 obtained all the well-laiown larger mammals around Albany, 



" There is a very well-defined coast-belt extending about 25 to 

 30 miles inland, which is generally low and rather swampy, 

 thickly covered with Jarrah and Red-Gum. trees intermixed with 

 very thick undergrowth. On following the railway northwards 

 from Albany, the country makes a sudden change at about Mount 

 Barker, where the grass- land begins ; it then remains very much 

 the same as far as York, the White Gum being the most plentiful 

 tree and the undergrowth being replaced by grass. The country 

 in the grass-region is much easier to hunt in, as there are patches 

 of undergrowth here and there where the animals collect. In 

 this district there are many species which are quite unknown 

 around Albany ; in fact, sill the mammals and birds which I got 

 during a fortnight's stay at the Arthur River, 20 miles west 

 of Wagin, were different to those collected around Albany, I 

 secured specimens of Macropus eiigenei, Onychogale lunata, Thala- 

 comys lagotis, and Bettongia lesueuri, and I heard that Spiny 

 Anteaters, Dasyures, and Choeropios castanotis were also plentiful 

 around the district." 



The collection now described contains examples of 32 species, of 

 Avhich two bats have proved to be new, while 1 have also given 

 subspecific names to the Dasyure and Echidna, which have been 

 previously known from Western Australia, but not distinguished 

 from their eastern allies. 



It is, however, not the novelties which give to this fine col- 

 lection its very great value to the Museum, but the excellent 

 series of specimens belonging to species of which the original 

 examples have become deteriorated by time, and in many cases 

 by that most destructive agency of all, exhibition in a public 

 gallery. These good modern specimens, for which we are in- 

 debted to the generosity of Mr, Balston, will now form a basis on 

 which further scientific work can be done on the fauna of this 

 most interesting region. 



