MAMMALIA. 
By BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A., C.M.Z.S., Professor of Biology 
in the Melbourne University. 
(Plates 1, 2 , 3, 4). 
Whilst many workers, such as Gould, Waterhouse, Gray, Ogilby and others, 
have dealt with and described mammals occurring in Central Australia, there has 
been as yet scarcely any attempt to draw up a detailed list of the mammalian 
fauna of this part of the continent. The number of mammals brought back by 
the early explorers—owing to the insuperable difficulties in the way of making 
collections whilst traversing with horses the arid interior—was naturally but 
small. 
In recent years the Elder Expedition brought back a small collection of some 
twenty specimens, which were described by Messrs. Stirling and Zietz* and referred 
to the following eight species :— Myrniecobius fasciatus, Trichosnrus vulpecula, 
Lngorchestes hirsuius, Onychogale lunata, Petrognk lateralis, Mac7'flpus robusUis, 
Hapalotis mitchelli, Mas albocinere^is (?). 
The most extensive list is that given by E. B. Sanger, f who states that, after 
two years’ sojourn in the central districts, the following were all the mammals that 
he met with :—Chiroptera— Scotophilus mori. Rodentia— Hapalotis conditor, H. 
cervina, H. mitchelli, Mus vellerosus. Hydro my s fulvolovatus^ Carnivora— Canis 
dingo. Marsupialia— Osphranter rufns, Onychogale lunata, Bettongia grayi, 
Pe7-ameles fasciatus, Peragale lagotis, Chceropus casta7iotis, Phala7igista sp. 
As Mr. Sanger says :—“ The physical conditions of the interior of Australia 
are not such as to support a varied fauna.” More especially is this true in the 
case of the mammalia. A frog or a mollusc may tide over months of drought, a 
mammal cannot usually do so, and hence the mammalian fauna of such an arid 
region must consi.st of two elements—(1) a small number of forms able to travel 
long distances with comparative ease, such as the kangaroo or dingo, and ('2) a 
* Trana. R.S. South Auat., vol. xvi., p. 1.54. 
t American Natur.alist, vol. xviii., 1884, p. 9. I am much indebted to Mr. J. J. Fletcher for his kimlness in 
drawing my attention to this article and providing me with a copy of it, as it was unprocurable in Melbourne. 
B 
