Notes on the mammals of Tasmania

It is remarkable that more attention has not been paid to the Mammals of Tasmania. Many interesting species occur here, and as they are decreasing in number every year, the following notes have been compiled in order to attempt to arouse interest ere it is too late. Unless unforeseen circumstances occur, many of our Mammals will share the fate of our Tasmanian Emu, and become extinct. Apart from the lists compiled by Gunn (1852), Krefft (1868), and Higgins and Petterd (1883), there has not been a separate list of our Mammals published. The foregoing lists are incomplete, and also out of print. Anyone desiring general information has to search through numerous descriptions of species in works dealing with Australian fauna, and, if possible, select the Tasmanian forms. As these are not always given in full, some confusion has been caused. In order to eliminate this, and also to make a starting point for further study, the accompanying list has been drawn up

The foundation of the National Park

As in years to come the National Park will probably be of considerable interest to natural history students, a brief resume of its foundation may be considered worthy of placing on record. Several years ago Mr. W. Crooke drew attention to the advisability of forming a reserve at Mount Field. Meetings and deputations were organised, and a special association, known as the National Park Association, was formed, in order to support the plan for a National Park

The south coast and Port Davey, Tasmania

On 13th September, 1875, the late Hon. J. R. Scott read a paper (Scott, P. & P. Roy. Soc. Tas., 1875) before this Society describing Port Davey.The remarks made in the present instance are the outcome of two brief visits to this area. In January, 1926, I visited the South Coast as far as New Harbour in my own yacht Telopea. That the south-west offers scope for development cannot be denied. In the past it has seen two industries-whaling and pining--both of which have ceased owing to the extravagant methods pursued by those in charge of the industries concerned. With the object lesson afforded by those examples before us, the future exploitation of other industries may well be conducted in a far better manner. The south-west region is to-day practically in its natural state. To-day there are prospects of the dawn of a new era of activity. With the advances which have been made concerning the importance of economic zoology, and other branches of nature, it is to be hoped that the future development of the area may be carried out with due regard to the scientific and economic importance of the proper conservation of our natural resources. If this is done, the future history of this wonderland of the west should be far brighter than its records of the last century

Existing Tasmanian marsupials

Within the last few years considerable attention has been directed to the present state of the Australasian marsupial fauna. The meetings held during the recent scientific congresses in Australia have served to stress the importance of our native animals and the need for a better system of conservation, for, with the advance of settlement, many forms of animal life are being reduced in numbers to a very considerable extent. This is particularly noticeable in the Australian zoo-geographical province. In view of the difficulty experienced in tracing the life histories and distribution of extinct and rare forms, a brief review of the present position of the Tasmanian marsupials may be useful not only for its present interest, but as a source of reference to workers in future years who may endeavour to trace the extent and distribution of our fauna, many forms of which will undoubtedly become rare if not extinct

Vinculum sexfasciatum, Richardson. An addition to the fish fauna of Tasmania.

The following species has been recorded from Western Australia and Victoria. It has also been reported from New South Wales, but McCulloch (1922, p. 65) queries the reliability of this record. The specimen recently presented to the Tasmanian Museum was secured on the East Coast of Tasmania by Messrs. Dale and Davis. It is the first of the Chaetodontidae to be recorded from Tasmanian waters. Includes illustration

On Pseudomys higginsi

Since Higgins and Petterd described (1882, pp. 171-176, and 1883, pp. 181-186, 195-198) several species, the Tasmanian Rodentia have not had much attention paid to them. Recently I obtained a series of specimens, and certain of these appear worthy of a further note; particularly so as Higgins and Petterd's types were not preserved and the validity of several of the species which they created has not been maintained. The examination of some specimens of P. higginsi, originally described as Mus leucopus by Higgins and Petterd (1882, p. 174), led me to forward a typical one to Mr. Oldfield Thomas, of the British Museum, for comparison with those sent to that institution by Mr. Petterd. Upon examination, Mr. Oldfield Thomas states that the specimen forwarded was no doubt P. higginsi

The early history of Maria Island, East Coast, Tasmania

Historically speaking, the discovery of Tasmania is of recent date, but even so, we lack many details of the early expeditions, and there were probably many early navigators of Australian seas of whom we know nothing. Even in modern days, navigation is not exempt from danger, although all the main routes have been carefully charted, and the advent of steam power has revolutionised the art of seamanship. The early explorers, however, sailed their small vessels along unknown coasts, and amidst uncharted reefs. It must also be remembered that the discoveries of many of the early explorers were not made known to the world for many years. Each expedition was working for its own country or company, and in some cases the results of the voyages were carefully guarded for the sake of self interest from a national standpoint. It was not for many years after his death that Tasmans work as an explorer became known, and the details of his stay at Tasmania, and incidentally the discovery of Maria Island, were given to the world. The exploring ships coming from the west - the more settled portions of the old world - nearly all followed on Tasmans tracks. Making their landfall on the rugged coasts of the south-western portion of Tasmania, or, as it was known of old, as the southern portion of Terra Australis, and then sailing east Until they reached the quieter waters of our east coast. Maria Island will always be connected with the early era of discovery, and the more one visits this locality, the greater the desire becomes to gain some knowledge of its early history. This was so in my own case, and what information I have gathered has been incorporated in the present paper in order that other's who are interested may have the information available should they desire to take advantage of it

The early history of Bruny Island

The Southern part of Tasmania came in for a considerable amount of attention in the early days, mainly owing to the fact that the existence of Bass Straits was not known, and all vessels coming from the westward had to weather the South-West Cape in order to reach the East Coast of the Continent and the seas beyond. Nearly all the navigators of whom we have record, however, left some trace of their visit by naming the prominent features of the locality wherein they stayed. In the present instance it is desired to place on record a few facts that have been compiled in relation to Bruny Island and its early explorers. In doing so it must be remembered that the records will be merely those of whom we have knowledge. While they were undoubtedly the chief ones, it is well to recall that there were probably many ships that set forth to explore the Southern seas, but which never returned. Includes notes on the nomenclature of Bruny Island

Preliminary note upon the discovery of a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal remains at Eaglehawk Neck.

On the eve of this issue of the Papers and Proceedings going to press a singular discovery of Tasmanian Aboriginal remains was made. Its importance appeared to the Council of the Society to warrant the publication of a short preliminary note, and I was accorded the honour of placing a few facts relating to this discovery on record. On January 15, 1919, Mr. T. I. Brister called at the Museum in order to have several pieces of bone identified. These proved to be human, and as far as could be judged from the small fragments they appeared to be aboriginal. Owing to the fact that Mr. Brister stated that there were numerous similar bones buried in the sand hills where he had obtained the fragments it was resolved to pay an immediate visit to the site. Upon arrival at Eaglehawk Neck, in company with Mr. Brister and Mr. W. H. Clemes, I found that a slight sandslip had occurred on the south-eastern face of one of the large sand dunes forming Eaglehawk Neck

A note on the burial customs of the Tasmanian aborigines

The methods of burial as practised by primitive races are of distinct interest in assisting to trace their evolutionary history. Owing to the lack of authentic information in detail of the customs of the Tasmanian aborigines, our knowledge is, in many matters, vague and uncertain. Often the observations relating to the aborigines were made years after their contact with the white race, and naturally their customs had been affected. Further, the more one studies the early records and observations made by early colonists, the more one realises their contradictory nature. The available evidence which could be gathered from early records has been admirably summarised by Ling Roth (1899, pp. 116-122)