576 MRS. M. G. HUBERTS 0\ 



and it was interesting to note the progress of the growth of the 

 hair from day to day. The shoulders were covered while the 

 hind-quarters were almost, or quite, bare, although a faint streak 

 of white was discernible where the white markings were to come 

 later on. At this early stage, should the mother get up to 

 move about, which she rarely does in the daytime, the young 

 somehow scramble into the pouch again. 



This family went later to the London Society, but the second, 

 which came on the 1 6th of September, I kept for my own pleasure, 

 with the exception of the mother ; as she had lost a foot when 

 being trapped, I thought it best to have her destroyed later on. 

 Unfortunately, when they were about half grown one escaped into 

 the garden, and the next morning her mutilated remains were 

 found — she had fallen a victim to our two fox-terriers. The three 

 survivors have been ever since an unfailing source of interest 

 and amusement to my family, to visitors, and myself. When a 

 bone or piece of meat was thrown to them a tug-of-war was 

 always the result, and sometimes a chase into one door and out 

 of the other of the little cave. At other times, while one has 

 been holding on to a bone held in my hand, I have lifted it 

 completely oft" the ground, while another would cling on round 

 the waist and tiy to pull it down. 



Many visitors from the Commonwealth have heard such exag- 

 gerated accounts of the ferocity and l^gliness of the Tasmanian 

 Devil (others, again, have believed it to be a myth), that they 

 sometimes express surprise when they see them so lively, sprightly 

 and excited, running out to my call ; they then remark, "the 

 devil is not so black as he is painted." 



Two of these Devils were latterly kept together as a pair, and 

 for the purposes of this article I will call them Billy and Truganini, 

 after the last two survivors of our lost Tasmanian race. These 

 showed no disposition to breed until April 1913, and my obser- 

 vation of them and of many others that 1 have had in my keeping 

 is, that the disinclination to take up maternal duties is always on 

 the part of the female. I then noticed suddenly a decided change — 

 that Billy would not allow her to come out of their little den ; if 

 she did venture when called to be fed, or at other times, he imme- 

 diately attacked her and would drag her back by the ear, or any 

 other part, but although otherwise cruel, he would carry food in to 

 her. When I called her, it was pitiable to hear her whining ; but 

 it was of no avail, for Billy was a relentless tyrant and kept her in 

 strict seclusion for quite ten or twelve days ; then early in May he 

 allowed her to be free once more. From thence onward, although 

 they were sometimes peaceable and affectionate, the balance of 

 power was completely on Truganini's side ; she constantly resented 

 his approach by biting and snarling at him : it seemed as if 

 coming events cast their shadows before, and she instinctively 

 felt that he would do the young some injury. From now her 

 pouch was anxiously scanned day by day, but it was some time 

 before I could be sure that it was gradually enlarging. I had been 



