432 



has recently reviewed the evidence in favour of or against 

 the indigenous origin of the species, and though not making 

 any definite pronouncement, apparently inclines to the 

 belief that the dingo existed in Australia prior to the advent 

 of man. 



Red Kangaroo (Macropas rufus, Desmarest). 



No wallabies and few kangaroos . were met with. All 

 were of this species, which is the only one known from the 

 Central district. A female (Blue Doe) and a third-grown 

 young one were disturbed on a wooded flat near Trinity on 

 September 16, where numerous tracks indicated that the 

 animals are not uncommon in the district; an opinion after- 

 wards confirmed by the manager of the station. The largest 

 mob seen was near Petermorra Bore, in the Mount Hopeless 

 district, where thirteen kangaroos crossed our course, their 

 synchronous, or alternating, movements producing an 

 interesting effect. 



Wire fences, where they occur — and "vermin-proof" 

 fences are met with in most out-of-the-way places — limit 

 the range of native animals, and render their destruction 

 easier to both man and dingo. On one occasion we chased a 

 pair of the animals to a fence. One doubled back along the 

 wire; the other, being headed off, dashed between two of the 

 camels, passing under the nose-line. When near Parachilna 

 on the homeward rail journey we started another pair, which 

 bounded along in front of the train, within the wire 

 enclosure, for a distance of about two miles. Descending a 

 gradient our speed was increased to one which proved too 

 great for the fast-tiring animals. One dashed at the fence 

 and broke through; the other attempted to jump over it, but, 

 striking the netting, fell back apparently exhausted. In a 

 few seconds it was on its legs again, and, doubling back, 

 gave the interested spectators in the train a splendid exhibition 

 of macropine progression. 



Common Opossum (Trichosurus vulpecula, Kerr). 



When hunting for nocturnal insects I disturbed several 

 opossums along the course of the Cooper, and in the daytime 

 their tracks on the ground were commonly seen. These are 

 generally in a straight line, connecting the trees with each 

 other, and the distinctness of the pads shows that they are 

 frequently used. One evening an opossum jumped from a low 

 branch, sprang over my head, alighted on its pad, and was 

 thence lost in the darkness. 



Next evening I took a gun with me and secured a 

 specimen ; its fur was tinged with red, thus approaching the 

 character of the variety, T. johnstonii, Ramsay. 



