
iPREE-KANGAROO, 59 
them a delicacy and only surrender their captures when compelled. 
When a mapi, as this tribe calls it, is discovered, a fence five or six 
feet high and several feet in diameter is built of rattan or lawyer 
canes and bushes around the tree. Some of the blacks enter the 
enclosure, ascend the tree, and drive the animal down. It usually 
jumps to the eround, often from a height of 20 feet. Should it 
elect to descend the trunk, it does so tail foremost. On reaching 
the ground the animal is eventually caught by the men surrounding 
the enclosure, generally by the tail, which member is dragged 
through the fence, the unfortunate mapi being despatched with 
blows from a nulla-nulla. The blacks will not venture within the 
fence on account of the dread in which they hold the powerful 
claws of the animal.” M 
Specimens.—In the Australian Museum, Sydney, there is a 
beautiful exhibit of five tree-kangaroos. The collectors obtained 
these from the Herberton district in 1890. They were got through 
the medium of the blacks, who having received provisions, feasted 
on them for days, and returned without any game, saying they were 
afraid to go The mounted police happening to be in the locality at 
the time, threatened them, when the blacks departed, and returned 
in a few days with boongaries. In the museum of Christiania there 
are five and one incomplete one; two of the specimens are young, 
being scarcely half-grown, but they show no essential difference in 
colour from the others. The British Museum, London, had one 
about ten years ago; another was sent by Dr. Ramsay, of Sydney. 
In July, 1891, Baron Von Muller, of Melbourne, received a specimen 
from Queensland, which is believed to be the first that had. been 
brought to Victoria. 

Deatru AppER—Acanthopis antarctica. 
Description.—The popular name seems to be indifferently death 
adder or deaf adder. Its length is from 2 feet 8 inches to 1 foot 9 
inches, the tail is abont 4 inches. The head is large, broad, flat, 
and wider than the neck behind. The tail is short, with a trigonal 
section at the base, but becoming very slender, and compressed 
towards the posterior end ; it has a recurved thorn-like spine which 
is directed obliquely upwards at the extremity. In old age only does 
the spine at the end of the tail harden; young and half-grown speci- 
mens have it more or less soft and pliable. In the belief of the unin- 
formed, the harmless horny spine at the end of the tail is its most 
dangerous weapon. The fangs are very large, perforated and fixed, 
there are two or three small teeth close behind each, but no other 
teeth in the upper jaw ; there are two long rows of teeth on the 
palate bones, the solid teeth of the lower jaw are small. The size of 
the fangs is greater than that usually found in other poisonous 
reptiles of Australia, but this only corresponds tu the great strength 
of the bones composing the cranium, while the venom gland also 
appears to be larger both absolutely and in proportion, than is usual 
in the Hlapidw. ‘The body is short, thick and rounded. ‘The scales 
a 
