2. Phascogale calura.

Handsome tailed Phascogale.

Kultarr, (native name.)

This is without doubt the most handsome species of the genus. It is ashy grey above, white underneath, with long bushy black tail, the upper half of the basal part of which is of a rich chesnut colour.

The few specimens which have found their way to Europe were procured at the Williams River, Western Australia; but when the intervening country between the Murray River and the West coast is better known to Naturalists, it will probably be found that the range of this beautiful creature extends over the larger half of the continent. The few specimens brought to me by the natives were generally found in hollow limbs of trees. I kept several alive for a considerable time, feeding them with live mice or small birds. Their movements were cat-like, but very graceful; like all the members of this genus they are strictly nocturnal in their habits. A female specimen, caught in the beginning of June, had 8 very small young ones attached to the teats, which were 10 in number: no regular pouch was observable, the long hair only covering the young progeny.

My specimens were captured near Williams' Station, Gol Gol Creek, about 10 miles from the Darling Junction.