85 



and nuchal crests gives to the cranium of nauticus a remarkably juvenile appear- 

 ance. No matter how old the animal may be, this immature appearance of the 

 cranium is retained both bv males and females. 



Bandicoots of other Islands. 



It is possible that on some of the other islands there are still bandicoots 

 living, but so far only upon St. Francis Island has an actual specimen been 

 obtained. This example, an adult male, was caught by a dog as it escaped from 

 some burning vegetation. In all external and cranial characters it is a typical 

 Isoodon nauticus. 



Fig. 3. 



Left manus and pes of Isoodon nauticus. Manus three times, 

 pes twice natural size. 



According to the residents on St. Francis Island, the bandicoot is not 

 uncommon, although it does not exist in anything like the numbers that were 

 met with only a few years ago. Probably we must reckon it as a doomed 

 animal, for on this inhabited island it has to contend with dogs and cats, and 

 still worse, with the fires made to burn off the vegetation of the islands and 

 destroy the nesting mutton birds. It would be very desirable to preserve an 

 adequate series before it is too late, and an effort should be made to transport 

 some of the stock to another island where they would be unmolested. 



