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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6
Cheiroptera—Bat-Tribe
Cheiroptera—Bat-Tribe.
a. Frugivorous Bats.
Pteropus.
P. poliocephalus.
P. conspicillatus.
P. funereus.
P. scapulatus.
These large Bats are best known by the name of Flying-foxes; they inhabit the east and north coast; in South Australia and on the west coast they have not been observed yet.
b. Insectivorous Bats.
Harpyia.
Harpyia australis. A new species of Bat, recorded from Cape York.
Molossus.
Molossus australis. Victoria.
Molossus Wilcoxii. New South Wales and Queensland.
Taphozous
Taphozous australis. North-east coast.
Rhinolophus.
R. megaphyllus. New South Wales.
R. cervinus. North-east and north coast.
R. aurantius. Port Essington.
Nyctophilus.
N. Geoffroyi. West Australia.
N. Gouldi. New South Wales.
N. unicolor. Tasmania.
N. timoriensis. West Australia.
N. australis. New South Wales.
Scotophilus.
S. Gouldi. Southern parts of Australia.
S. morio. Southern parts of Australia.
S. microdon. Tasmania.
S. picatus. South Australia.
S. Greyi. Port Essington.
S. pumilus. New South Wales.
Vespertilio.
V. macropus. South Australia.
V. tasmaniensis. Tasmania.
Nycticejus.
N. australis. East coast of Australia.
Our knowledge of the smaller Bats is not very extensive, and in most descriptions of species the chief characteristics, the number, shape, and arrangement of their teeth, is omitted. Australia has not one genus peculiar to the country.
Canidæ.—Dog-Tribe.
Canis.
C. Dingo.
The Australian Native Dog or Dingo inhabits almost every part of Australia, and interbreeds freely with the domestic dog. In the more settled districts this destructive animal has been nearly exterminated. Dingos occur of almost any color,—black and tan, tan spotted with white or pure tan, and yellowish. In Tasmania no Dingos have been observed by the first settlers, nor have fossil remains of dogs been found there.
Phocidæ.—Seal-Tribe.
Stenorhynchus.
S. leptonyx. Tasmania and southern portions of Australia,
Arctocephalus.
A. lobatus. Southern and eastern coasts of New South Wales and Tasmania.
A. cinereus. South and West coasts.
The seals of the Australian coast frequently ascend rivers to a great distance, and during the time of floods may be carried into some lake or lagoon, whence, after the subsidence of the water, retreat is impossible. Through animals of this kind being left in an extensive lake the fable of the Bunyip may have arisen. A large Seal, now in the Australian Museum, captured in fresh water, had devoured a full-grown Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus.) Three species are common on the Australian coastline, though many others inhabit the Antarctic Ocean.
Rodentia, or Rat-Tribe.
a. Long-eared Rats.
Hapalotis.
H. albipes. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
H. apicalis New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
H. hemileucura. Queensland.
H. hirsutus; North Australia.
H. penicillata. North Australia,
H. conditor. New South Wales.
H. longicaudata. Western Australia.
H. Mitchellii. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia,
H. arboricola, New South Wales.
b. Short-eared Rats.
Mus.
M. fuscipes. Southern Australia.
M. vellerosus. South Australia.
M. longipilis. Victoria River.
M. cervinipes. New South Wales.
M. assimilis New South Wales,
M. manicatus. Port Essington.
M. sordidus. New South Wales.
M. lineolatus. New South Wales.
M. Gouldi. From East to West coast.
M. nanus. New South Wales and Western Australia.
M. albocinereus. Western Australia.
M. novæ-hollandiæ. New South Wales.
M. delicatulus. North Australia.
M. macropus. North Australia.
M. personatus. North Australia.
c. Water Rats.
Hydromys.
H. chrysogaster. Various parts of Australia.
H. fulvolavatus. Various parts of Australia.
H. leucogaster. Various parts of Australia.
H. fuliginosus. Various parts of Australia.
H. lutrilla. Various parts of Australia.
Numerous Eats have been described according to the colour of their fur; but few authors have examined the dentition of their new creations, so that in course of time their number will probably suffer a reduction. We consider the five Water-rats to be varieties of a single species.
Sirenia.—Dugong-Tribe.
Halicore.
H. Dugong.
The Dugong is not found on the coast of New South Wales, but inhabits the more northern seas; it is still plentiful near Brisbane, and chased on account of its valuable oil, said to be superior to cod-liver-oil.
Cetacea.—Whale-Tribe.
BalæNa.
B. australis(?).
The "Right Whale" is still observed in Australian waters. A fine skeleton, 96 feet long, is in the Melbourne Museum.
Physeter.
P. macrocephalus.
Sperm Whales are also caught occasionally. A skeleton, 35 feet long, is in the Australian Museum, at Sydney.
Kogia.
K. Graii.
Of this curious and rare species of Whale, specimens are now and then obtained. A skin and two skeletons are in the Australian Museum, at Sydney.
Dioplodon.
D. seychellensis.
A rare Whale,—a skeleton of which was lately purchased of some of the inhabitants of Lord Howe Island, is now in the Australian Museum, at Sydney. Many other cetaceans inhabit the Australian seas, but we cannot enumerate all the species in this paper.
Mesoplodon?
A fine skeleton, allied to the above genus, has just been secured for the Museum, which contains also several skeletons and many skulls of the so-called "Killers" and Porpoises.