254 Petaurus sciureus in Tasmania. 



from " O'Connor's Sugar-loaf," a hill on the Lake River, 

 about 30 miles south from Launceston {Tasmanian Journal, 

 vol. iii. p. 76.) 



Since that period, several individuals have been killed at 

 widely-separated stations, indicating both a rapid extension 

 and multiplication of the species, — the last having been 

 killed about four weeks ago (about 1st September, 1850), 

 by Mr. Landale, upon his father's farm, on the Meander 

 Eiver, about 1 1 miles west from Launceston ; which speci- 

 men is now in my possession. 



No species of Petaurus is indigenous to Tasmania ; it 

 therefore becomes peculiarly interestiDg to note hoiv and 

 at what time the present species was introduced. 



It does not appear from all that I can learn, that any 

 living specimens of the Petaurus sciureus were imported 

 into Van Diemen's Laud prior to 1834 ; but immediately 

 after the settlement of Port Phillip, in that year, considerable 

 numbers of the flying squirrel were, from their beauty, 

 brought over as pets by the early visitors. Launceston was 

 at that time the principal port connected with the Port 

 Phillip trade, and thither the squirrels were brought in 

 proportionate numbers. I remarked at the time, that 

 most of the individuals so imported, from their extreme 

 nocturnal activity, escaped from confinement almost imme- 

 diately after arrival ; and it would now appear that they at 

 ©nee found food and shelter in the woods adjoining the 

 town, and the climate not proving too severe, they have 

 increased and become dispersed over much of the country 

 around Launceston. It is also probable that some were 

 carried, as pets, some distance into the country before they 

 escaped ; but upon this point I cannot speak with certainty. 



The Petaurus scitireus has, since 1845, been killed in 

 a wild state at Penquite ; Mr. Gough's farm, Patterson's 

 Plains ; Franklin Village ; Mr. Pitcher's, on the Westbury 



