v.iiiahlc. Fires hiivc h*U) a sciious 

 effect mi the habitat Ap&rflXintatelj 

 iwl'iiin animals were obsetwi dm 

 |Oji (he period t95d-»53) 

 i he ikttong has been observed 



only it) Hie open seleropbytl forest, 

 eithei with hcalh pi glass ground 

 onvr, or in nearby orehaiil and pas- 

 ture ll may penelrnte areas of light 

 scrub cover, I here seems every 

 rcaspn hj believe that the hahilai 

 normally has a high degree oi sun- 

 light penetration. The animals have 

 not been observed in hollows or 



gullies where Vegetation is dense and 

 sunliL'hi penetration vciy low. Ii 

 does nor. however, follow dial die 

 hahila! is purely ol hills, Suitable 

 flat areas are also popular; however 

 an animal has been observed skirling 

 a marshy area more densely vege- 

 tated. 



A nest ol the Bcttong previously 

 described (Kershaw. I l >52) whs 

 Situated on a dolente hill slope of 

 westerly aspect in open forest It wa.% 



fashioned of grasses in a shallow 

 hollow in the surface, wirh a hark 

 floor Nests of these animals are 

 always completely covered and con- 

 sequently difficult to see, The site 

 nun have been chosen on ihe basis 

 of suitability of material available 

 lo contrive a small mimcl Such nests 



may be temporary. In 

 1 1 1 1 te > 1 1 y 1 1 lieltongs were 

 .in aiea. no amount 

 revealed a li ne lies! slruuuie. I | ln 



crises, 

 ed m 



se.iiehiiij; 



niav make use ol suitable available 

 cover m general, and conllnc nest 

 building 10 periods of malm;, acti- 

 vity. 



Nests in any case are destroyed 

 readily by stock grazing through the 

 area and by fires. After tiics ih c 

 animals lepopulale an area quickly 

 when enough cover returns, the 

 ubiquitous braeken lein serves almost 

 as well in providing eovci lor forag- 

 ing expeditions. Although shy and 

 difficult I" observe die IkCunj \ul\ 

 appeal in quiet places eaily in the 

 evening when observations are po s - 

 sible. lorehhghl observations have 

 been made when the animals appear 

 fascinated by the light or even ijmore 

 it. 



Pouch young have lieeu - 

 in autumn and spring Since these 

 obseivalions weie made, Guilcr 

 I l'X<0) has found that hreedinu lakes 

 place throughout the year, but thcie 

 is more uctivity in spring and late 

 summer months Observations seem 

 to suggest also thai mild, relatively 

 dry Conditions as well as Ihe local 

 environment may l.ivour the Bcttong. 



Man & 



r.vp.ctil hiihiua of ihi 



oetlopy un a detenu 



lull near < larencc 

 Point, T«miihi Kivrr 

 Tavirainii- 



8 



Vict. Nat Vol 88 



