NORTH AUSTRALIAN MAMMALIA. 209 



The stone seems to afford a better hold for their rough-soled feet 

 than the soil, and they always, when running, keep to the rock, 

 turning and twisting themselves with cat-like cleverness, and run- 

 ning up or down apparently perpendicular cliffs with the same 

 ease as on the level. They will squeeze through nearly any 

 opening, are extremely shy, and I never in my wide wanderings 

 met an animal that puts a man's shooting more to the test. Just 

 at sunset they come out and, perched on the rocks a short time 

 before commencing to feed, they seem to enjoy the cool evening 

 air and the gorgeous tropical sunset. The least noise will then 

 disturb them, even in places where the crack of a gun has never 

 been heard, and, like flitting shadows, their light forms will noise- 

 lessly vanish among the broken boulders. Occasionally they will 

 go down to water to drink, but they do not seem to require it as 

 often as many other Macropodidcz. They breed all the year 

 round. Only one young is born at a time, and the mother aban- 

 dons it immediately when in danger. 



P etrog ale br achy otis. "Doria"; " Petpungo." 

 This handsome " Rock Wallaby " was met with in the same 

 localities as the P. concinna, but seems to prefer country with 

 larger features. It has a far wider range, and is found on nearly 

 every large broken hill or mountain. In the torn and rugged 

 sandstone ranges around the mouth of the Victoria river, and in 

 the large central table-land in Arnhem Land, great numbers were 

 observed. 



Its mode of life and habits are very much the same as those 

 of P. coticinna, but, being a heavier animal, it is less graceful, and 

 is without the marvellous agility and swiftness of that animal. 



Onychogale unguifera. " Karrabbal." 

 This pretty Wallaby, the tail of which at its extreme point is 

 furnished with a very peculiar horny spike or nail, was only 

 observed in one locality in Arnhem Land. 



Around Fountain Head and the Glencoe cattle depot the 

 country assumes a certain desert-like character ; crippled scrub 

 is scattered over vast flats, where innumerable ant-hills tower like 

 churches with domes and minarets, brick-red and baked in the 

 parching sun. In these barren surroundings the little Wallaby 



