under shrub UuA been ctegtfUfe^ by 

 sheep grazing. 



1-ollosving presentation of the 

 Mamblyn specimen in the South 

 Australian Muscuin, ihc area wiw 

 immediately examined In the Author 

 willi members of the S.uiih Australian 

 Held NatOrtrtfetS Society Mamma) 

 (lull, The search lulled lo icseal 

 cither additional examples of the 

 I .uge Desert Snunthopsis, or furthci 

 data on the habits of the species. 

 Numerous Mitchell's Hopping-mice 

 {Notomys mUcheHl) were collected 

 nearbv however, and introduced 

 house-mice [Mus nuisiuliis) were 

 found to he abundant throughout the 

 surrounding district. 



As a result of this failure, an inten- 

 sive campaign for more specimens 

 was initiated throughout northern 

 hyre Peninsula, and, on 23 April, 

 1969, Mr. Dennis F.ichner, a clearing 

 contractor of Bailey Plains, collected 

 four lurther specimens while logging 

 and burning mallee-broomhush scrub 

 on Section 45. Hundred ol Boon- 

 erdoo. This area was of identical 

 lopographv and vegetation to the 

 Mamblyn locality, but situated some 



Si) miles to the south east. One ol 

 Mr I'.ichner's specimens suhse- 

 quality escaped, bul the lem.iindet 

 were deposited in the South Ausira. 

 lian Museum. 



Discovers of the Booncrdoo eulom 

 not only confirmed thai the large 

 Desert Sminthopsis was a viable 

 species iif Byre Peninsula, but pro- 

 vided additional evidence that tnallce- 

 broombush scrub with porcupine I 

 grass, was a preferred habitat, lhe I 

 discos cry sci ved also lo allay fears 

 that the species would disappear 

 again soon afiei rediscovery. Such 

 could well have been the case at 

 Mamblyn. where clearing of the 

 habitat is proceeding rapidly. At 

 Booneuloo, on the other hand, all 

 tour specimens were collected from 

 an area immediately adjacent to the 

 Hambivlge Wildlife Reserve, where the 

 topography and vegetation is essen- 

 tially the same as that of the capture 

 locality. II is reasonable to assume 

 therefore, lhat lhe Large Desert 

 Sminthopsis is icpiesented on the 

 reset ve. where, with proper manage 

 ment. its chances ot survival urc 

 good. 



