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Show 1 9 0 6 .] MAMMALS FROM SOUTH-WEST AUSTRALIA. 4 6 9 comparable with that occurring in Central Australia, the region of Notoryctes. But even in the fertile south-west area, although the country supports a mammal-fauna rich in individuals, that richness is unfortunately now largely made up of introduced animals-cats, rabbits, rats, and mice, which appear to be the dominant members of the fauna at most places. Many of the smaller species, found in numbers by Mr. Gilbert in 1842, would seem to have been almost or quite exterminated by these introduced pests, and Mr. Shortridge has had great difficulty in catching any but the latter. The following extract from a letter of his from Beverley will give some idea of the character of the country and his trapping experiences:- u There are so many trappers about that I am beginning to get a good idea of the distribution of most of the larger mammals. With the exception of Pseudochirus occidentcdis, I think I have obtained all the well-known larger mammals around Albany. " There is a very well-defined coast-belt extending about 25 to 30 miles inland, which is generally low and rather swampy, thickly covered with Jarrah and Red-Gum trees intermixed with very thick undergrowth. On following the railway northwards from Albany, the country makes a sudden change at about Mount Barker, where the grass-land begins; it then remains very much the same as far as York, the White Gum being the most plentiful tree and the undergrowth being replaced by grass. The country in the grass-region is much easier to hunt in, as there are patches of undergrowth here and there where the animals collect. In this district there are many species which are quite unknown around Albany ; in fact, all the mammals and birds which I got during a fortnight's stay at the Arthur River, 20 miles west of Wagin, were different to those collected around Albany. I secured specimens of Macropus eugenei, Onychogale lunata, Thcda-comys lagotis, and Bettongia lesueuri, and I heard that Spiny Anteaters, Dasyures, and Choeropus castanotis were also plentiful around the district." The collection now described contains examples of 32 species, of which two bats have proved to be new, while 1 have also given subspecific names to the Dasyure and Echidna, which have been previously known from Western Australia, but not distinguished from their eastern allies. It is, however, not the novelties which give to this fine collection its very great value to the Museum, but the excellent series of specimens belonging to species of which the original examples have become deteriorated by time, and in many cases by that most destructive agency of all, exhibition in a public o-allery. These good modern specimens, for which we are indebted to the generosity of Mr. Balston, will now form a basis on which further scientific work can be done on the fauna of this most interesting region. |
