150 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE SMALLER MARSUPIALS. 



search in their haunts in dry weather, failed to locate any trace of them, other than their abandoned 

 nests. We surmise that they go into deep cracks which open up in these western plains in the 

 summer. In captivity, they are both insectivorous and carnivorous, and in summer the tail becomes 

 thickened with accumulated fat. The general colour of the upper parts is fawn, while the under 

 parts are white ; there is a rather indistinct dark mark round the eye. and a brown band on the outer 

 side of the ear. A male specimen in Taronga Park measures 8S mm. without the tail, which is 51 

 mm. long. 



We have had this species from Widgiewa, Western New South Wales, am 

 reported it from Condamine Plains, Brookstead. Queensland. 



Mr. A. C. Bligh has 





Fie;. 2 1 '. — Stump showing location of nest of 

 Pygmy hiving Opossum. 



Fig. 



^t : : 1 \';iih 1 K in t , Op 



The Pygmy Flying Opossum, Acrobates pygmaeus. (Figs. 2a. 2b. and 2c.) 



This well-known little animal, the smallest and most delicate of our marsupials, i< found in 

 Eastern Australia. It seems to be fairly plentiful in timbered country, and we have located it in 

 the heavy forests west of the Dorrigo. There we found its very compact nests formed of eucalyptus 

 leaves, and placed in small holes in the trunks of the Giant White Gums, Eucalyptus regnans. They 

 were rounded in shape and open at the top, and several were located in excresences of these trees 

 which are known as niggerheads. The first nest found was situated perhaps one hundred feet from 

 the ground, and contained an adult pair, the female with young in the pouch, and two smaller speci- 

 mens. Mr. S. A. Hanscome found a nest of Acrobates at Seaham in a small stump about a foot from 

 the ground, and constructed of grass and leaves; and the photo which he kindly supplied, well 



