NOBTH AUSTBALIAN MAMMALIA. 197 



Conilurus boweri. " Katkomba." 



This beautiful species I only had the opportunity of observing 

 in the vicinity of Roebuck Bay, Western Australia. It does not 

 occur in Arnhem Land. According to the evidence of the natives, 

 like the C. hirsutus, it frequents the hollow trees of the Eucalyptus 

 scrubs. I have never seen it myself, except in the houses of 

 settlers. These corrugated iron buildings, with their rafters and 

 framework of Eucalyptus wood, are always tenanted by the " Kat- 

 komba," the flour- and rice-bags of the store-rooms being the 

 object of their visit. 



On the Hill-station, quite close to Roebuck Bay, a couple of 

 these parasites had their stronghold under the roof of the dilapi- 

 dated house. Every evening after dark they would commence 

 moving about, and by the flickering light of our lamps I could 

 see the beautiful white-tailed animals rapidly crawl along the 

 rafters overhead, and vanish into the store-room. My attempts 

 to induce them to enter a trap invariably failed. Only by the aid 

 of the natives was I able to secure one nearly adult specimen and 

 two young ones. These latter were brought to me in the month 

 of December, but probably the breeding takes place during the 

 whole year. The number of young ones being two, I venture to 

 propose that this may be regarded as the constant birth-rate of 

 the genus. It will be remembered that the same number is always 

 found with C. hirsutus, 



Hydromys chrysogaster fulvolavatus. " Djinnjokma." 



Although this species abounds in nearly all the northern 

 lagoons, rivers, and creeks, the traveller will hardly ever see it, 

 and even the aborigine can only with difficulty procure it. 



Everywhere along the water's edge these animals dig numerous 

 channels into the bank, like the European Water-vole, and in the 

 water they seek their food, which chiefly consists of fish and crusta- 

 ceans. The bleached shells of the latter are generally to be seen 

 along the shore where the animal has devoured its prey. 



The mode of life of this animal I had very little oppor- 

 tunity of observing, but I think it may be considered as chiefly 

 nocturnal in its habits. Sometimes it will, according to the 

 natives, come out in the daytime, but hardly without being 



