44 
HORK EXPEDITION—MAMMALIA. 
“Next mortiing the ‘mole’ was evidently in extremis, and it died during the 
forenoon. 
“The fur had a singularly soft silky feel and was distinctly iridescent.” 
Mr. Byrne, writing to me in September, 1895, says:—“A few days ago I 
had a Notoryctes alive for about twenty-four hours, but he was very weak when 
brought in and seemed unable to burrow to any depth in the tub of sand into 
which I put him. He eat one “ witchetty,” and once or twice, when everything 
was quiet, he elevated his head and tail (juietly and made a slight chirping noise, 
which he repeated two or three times, running forward a few steps between each 
cry. I fancy that fear has a good deal to do with their dying so quickly in 
captiv’ity, as they are very nervous little animals, and the slightest sound disturbs 
them and starts them burrowing. When held in the hand they scratch inces¬ 
santly.” 
I have now had more than forty specimens * in my possession, and add here 
a few notes with regard to certain points. Since Dr. Stirling’s original account 
was published, further notes have been issued by the latter, and Dr. Gadow has 
dealt with certain points, such as the teeth, and Professor AVilson has published 
the first instalment of his detailed account of the musculature. Dr. Stirling and 
myself are now engaged upon an investigation of certain parts, such as the teeth, 
fur, and reproductive organs. 
Dimensions of the body .—There is comparatively little variation in this 
respect, and one sex is not decidedly larger than the other, though the longest 
specimen yet actually measured is a male. The following table relates to twenty 
of those now in my possession ;— 
I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
$ 
? 
? 
$ 
$ 
$ 
d 
$ 
? 
$ 
Length from snout to 
tip of tail 
155 
155 
160 
152 
151 
148 
148 
158 
157 
155 
Length from anus to 
tip of tail 
23-5 
21-5 
23 
24 
24 
21 
22 
24 
23 
24 
* To Mr. Byrne I am much indebted for a large number of specimens. The present season appears to have 
been an exceptionally favourable one for securing this still rare form of marsupial. 
