by dense tough shrubbery (Wakefield 

 1963.1). Presumably, that change in 

 vegetation has been general in the 

 Grampians, and it is probable that 

 this has been a major factor in the 

 almost complete elimination of rock 

 wallabies from the region. 



A nociaicd mammals 



The Silver-grey Possum (Tricho- 

 umn vulpvcuUi) is co-existent with 

 the rock-wallabies, and it is c\i- 

 demly abundant. It lives m similar 

 lock crevices and. on the evidence 

 of its faeces, ranges over the high 

 exposed outcrops just as the wallu- 

 bics do. Also on the evidence of 

 faeces, the Common Ringtail [hs^udo- 

 tluirns pcn\i>rinu.\) > s present but 

 scarce, and an inscct-catcr, probably 

 the Yellow-looted Phascogale (Ante- 

 chimt* fhivipes), is present, too. 

 Diggings of the I'.chidna (/,«'/>- 

 iKKtaitui) Oft abundant, even 

 on hi S h clilT ledges, and the Brush 



Apr.l. 1971 



Wallahy {Marropiis ruloxtheus) in- 

 habits contiguous heathland tracts. 



Tracks and faeces indicate that the 

 introduced Ship Rat [Rattus raltUi) 

 is in the colony area, and feral goats 

 [Capra hircits) have camped in two 

 rock shelters there, though not 

 recently. A single set of faeces indi- 

 cates that the European fox ( Vulpes 

 uulpes) is an occasional visitoi to the 

 area. The rabbit | OryctptagHS ffflttf- 

 (itlns) is present in some heathland 

 iracis. and the Red Deer fCetVUS 

 elaplnis) visits these too. but there 

 is not abundant evidence of either. 



Extent of occurrence 



Following reports by naturalists, 

 uf the observation of faeces thought 

 10 be those of rock-wallabies, a 

 number of exploratory excursions 

 were made to other parts of the 

 Victoria Range. The loci were (a) 

 m-jr Che head of Honev suckle Creek. 

 8 miles SOUth of Red Rock, (b) the 



101 



