57>S Mlts. M, a. ROBERTS 0\ 



luy family that pei'haps my inteiference might cause a disaster, 

 I yielded and replaced him, doing so with many misgivings. 

 Matters went on much the same until late in September, when to 

 my delight a tail, and at other times part of a small body, could 

 be seen sticking out of the pouch, more especially when the 

 mother sat up to wash her face, or rolled upon her back ; unlike 

 domestic cats, the devils use both paws for washing, placing them 

 together and thus making a cup-like depression which, when 

 thoroughly licked, is rubbed well over the face. Everything looked 

 very promising on the Sunday before Michaelmas Day, when I 

 noticed Truganini carrying large bunches of straw about in her 

 mouth, evidently seeking for a retired place to make a bed, and 

 we had already placed some fern logs in a corner of their yard. 

 As Billy would follow her about and interfere, I had a box put 

 down with a hole cut in the side that she might hide under ; but 

 it was of no use, as where she went he would also go, and a scrim- 

 mage was the inevitable result. Early next morning, with many 

 misgivings I left home for ten days, only to find on my return 

 that her pouch was empty and that the young had disappeared, 

 and as no remains whatever had been found, I could only conclude 

 that they had been eaten by Billy. 



Thus ended all my hopes and anticipations for 1913. I have 

 not so far related an incident that took place just before the 

 breeding-season. Being hopeful that Truganini might have 

 young in her pouch, and my assistant being as usual very busy, 

 Professor T. T. Flynn, of the Tasmanian University, who is 

 always interested in our marsupials, kindly offered to examine 

 her pouch. As soon as an attempt was made to catch her, Billy 

 grasped the position of afiairs and fought to defend her with all 

 his might, even getting behind her in the little cave, putting a 

 paw on each shoulder and holding her tightly, lest she might get 

 into what appeared to him to be the danger zone. By dint of 

 perseverance and a little strategy he was outwitted at last, but 

 our hopes were doomed to disappointment. 



Truganini has now passed through another period of retirement, 

 and I am hoping to record shortly a greater measui'e of success 

 for 1914. 



T cannot close this article without a few words in defence of the 

 Tasmanian Devil, as I am sure that it is more or less "misunder- 

 stood," and the article with photograph published in the ' Royal 

 Magazine' for October 1913 under the name of L. E,. Brightwell, 

 F.Z.S., is, I consider, greatly exaggerated both as regards their 

 appearance and character, viz., " They ai-e well named, for they 

 tear everything, even sheep, to pieces if they get the chance.'" 



On several occasions when one of mine has escaped, the only 

 mischief done has been the destruction of a fowl or a duck or two. 

 It would have been just as easy for a wallaby to have been killed 

 if they had had the inclination, about which our fox-terriers would 

 not have hesitated for a, minute if a chance had occurred. When 

 in transit to London last year one escaped, and I have been told 



