11: 



CHAPTER XV. 



ANIMALS OF THE FOREST. 



The animals, or more correctly mammals, of Western Australia play but an 

 unimportant part in the life of the trees of the forest, partly because most of them 

 are small, and partly because, under normal conditions, they are not numerous. 

 At the same time it should be noted that the mammal fauna of Western Australia 

 includes many plant feeders, among which are included all the larger forms, except 

 the dingo, which is carnivorous. The other flesh feeders are small, the native cat 

 or dasyure being the most important. Some species live almost entirely upon in- 

 sects and other vermin. 



1. Clnroptera — Bats. 



The bats of the South- West and Central Districts are all insectivorous and so 

 are of considerable value to the forester. They are crepuscular or nocturnal, and 

 in the Avarmer months may be seen in the dusk flitting through the air in search of 

 their prey. 



In the North- West the Blood-sucking Bat or False Vampire, a bat which feeds 

 upon the blood of small mammals, birds, and reptiles, is found in the more arid 

 parts. 



The Kimberley District possesses several species of the large Fruit-eating Bat 

 or Flying Fox. These are fairly numerous in certain parts and will, no doubt, 

 prove a serious pest when attempts are made to grow tropical fruits on a large 

 scale. 



2. Bodentia — Rats and Mice. 



The various species of native rats and mice, which were never numerous, are 

 being rapidly exterminated by the Black Rat and the Domestic Mouse — creatures 

 which are a source of great loss to mankind and are among man's most repulsive 

 and dangerous enemies. Relentness war should be waged upon these pests which, 

 because of their great fertility and remarkable power of adaptation may, if un- 

 checked, become a serious menace to the forester. 



3. Carnivora — Dogs and Cats. 



The only native animal that is exclusively carnivorous is the Dingo or Native 

 Dog. This dog causes great loss to sheep farmers and breeders of stock, and 

 therefore is being hunted systematically in many parts of the State. On the other 

 hand, the dingo preys upon many of the plant-eating marsupials and there can be 

 little doubt that the recent unwelcome increase in numbers of the wallabies in some 

 parts of the South-West is due to the gradual disappearance of the dingo. 



The wild form of the Domestic Cat, which until recently was protected as an 

 exterminator of rabbits, has done incalculable damage by killing many birds of 

 the bush, most of them insect-eaters, and steps should be taken to reduce its num- 

 bers in forest lands. 



4. Diprotodont Marsupicrts — Kangaroos, Wallabies, etc. 

 This large group of Australian marsupials, distinguished by the presence of 

 two large incisor teeth in the lower jaw, consists almost entirely of vegetable feeders. 

 The kangaroos and larger wallabies are grazing animals and would therefore do 



