REMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 
57 
vicissitudes with marvellous equanimity and accepted the inevitable 
with so good a grace that when her little ones began to honor the world 
with their presence it was found they were as healthy and hearty a 
brood of imps as any mother devil could desire. A second adult devil was 
caged with the mother, and when the brood began to move about it was 
thought wise to remove this old one, for fear it would indulge a certain 
propensity for cannibalism that is known to belong to the tribe. But 
in handling this beast it was discovered, contrary to former belief, that 
Three little Imps. 
it also was a female, and also had three very immature young in her 
pouch. So that it was another instance of “it never rains but pours;” 
and a closer study of the lives of these repulsive looking animals can 
now be undertaken by seeing them in families. Mr. D. Le Souef says 
that he does not remember having seen a photograph of such very young 
devils before, and believes it to be unique; but although the little things 
protested, (and their mother even more vigorously), against being 
handled for photographing it can be seen that they decided quickly to 
ignore the whole process and make themselves as comfortable as possible. 
