1. Dasyurus Geoffroyi.

Native Cat or Tiger Cat of the Settlers.

"Kettrie" of the Natives.

This is the most blood-thirsty of the Marsupial animals inhabiting the Murray scrubs, solitary in its habits, strictly nocturnal, and the terror of the feathered tribe, particularly of the yellow crested Cockatoo. Afraid of nothing, it will, when hungry, attack any other animal; a mother will eat even her own progeny, if she has nothing else to fall back upon.

I have often detected the lair of this Dasyurus by the heap of feathers and bones generally collected at the foot of the tree upon which it dwells; it is eaten by the natives. The female is not furnished with the usual pouch, and in June or July brings forth often as many as 6 young at a time, so that every teat is occupied, 6 being the number of mamma) generally observed in this species. The Native Cat of our neighbourhood (Dasyurus viverrinus) is somewhat smaller in size, with a more bushy tail, and the female furnished with 6 teats; this may not be constantly the case, though I am informed by my friend, Mr. E. P. Ramsay, that various specimens examined by him had not more than 6 teats, only 4 of which were in milk. Owing to the absence of a pouch, many of the weak young drop off, and only a few, generally 3 or 4, reach maturity.

All my attempts to domesticate the young have proved fruitless; they never learnt to recognise the hand that fed them, and though I kept a pair nearly six months, at the end of that time they were found only more ferocious than ever; having made their escape at last, they kept near the huts and tents of the camp, completely clearing the place of mice and other vermin. Wherever a spot is infested with mice or rats in the bush (and some of the stations are overrun with them) there page 8 is no better remedy than to procure a few young Dasyuri, which having been kept on the ground for a few months, and turned out into the store-house, will soon "effect a clearance."

The range of this species extends, according to Gould, as far as the West Coast.

The Natives inhabiting the country near the junction of the Darling, have some superstitions regarding this animal, and "Jacob," an old chief on the River, often assured me, that "Kettrie make rain and rainbow." As his kinsmen are not fond of rain, I suppose they kill as many Kettries as possible.