82() MR. G, C, SHORTRIDGE ON GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION [JSToV. 23, 



The aninial known to natives as ' Wnrrark ' around the 

 ^Margaret River is probably Potorous c/ilberti, said to frequent 

 nia,rshy country, and although foi'merly numerous, it is thought 

 to have almost, if not entirely, died out. A few may still occur 

 towards Cape Leeuwin. 



A small gregai-ious wallaby is said to have been at one time 

 plentiful in the coastal scrub to the east of Albany ; from the 

 description it was probably one of these species. It was known 

 to the natives as ' Moort,' and according to them has entirely 

 ^disappeared there. Described as being rather similar to Macropus 

 hrachyuriis in habits, but more sluggish in its movements, 

 on which account cats and bush-fires have pi-obably caused its 

 disappearance. 



6 skulls collected [Potorous gllherti). Margaret River caves. 



Tarsipes spexser.e Gray. (Text-fig. 261.) 



As yet known to occur only in the extreme coastal districts of 

 the South- West, although the natives around Beverley speak 

 of a striped marsupial mouse occurring there which they call 

 ' Deed.' 



Apparently very local, most of the specimens known haviirg 

 been obtained around Albany ; the only other known locality is 

 Wagerup, about thirty miles north of Bunbury, from which place 

 the Perth Museum has a single specimen — described as from 

 the Margaret River. Said to freqiient low- lying and often swampy 

 country, making small I'ound grass-nests, like a dormouse, among 

 the thinner branches of Ti-trees or Paper-barks. The small 

 marsupial mice are veiy difficult to secui'e on account of their 

 rarity, and their nocturnal, arboreal, and to a gi-eat extent insec- 

 tivorous habits, being chiefl}^ known from cats killing and bringing 

 them into houses. 



8 specimens collected (Albany) ; (6 in Perth i\Ius9um). 



Dromicia coxcixxa Gld. (Text-fig. 262, p. 828.) 



Rather widely distributed throughout the South- Western and 

 Central districts ; obtained as far inland as Parker's Range, near 

 Southern Cross, where it is said to be fairly plentiful, and is 

 well known owing to its fi-equently dropping down the shafts of 

 mines. A pouched mouse, that probably belongs either to this 

 species or SmintJwpsis crassicaudata, is also desciibed from 

 Kurrawang (near Kalgoorlie) and Laverton. It occurs in South 

 Australia, where however it seems to be little known. 



Ai'boreal, hiding l)y day among dead timber, or in nests built 

 either in hollow- stumps or among the branches of low trees and 

 bushes. 



4 specimens collected. Southern Cross (Parker's Range) ; 

 Bunbury ; Albany (in Perth Museum). 



'Possum Mouse of Colonists. 



' Xyeranit' (Margaret River) of natives. 



