SPECIES A.M.N.H. No. 153484 SKIN. MAMMAL DEPT. AUSTRALIAN SECTION. COLLECTOR: L. MACMILLAN. COLL. NO. M. 5. Dicboms Waterhole- 10 miles south of BIRDSVILLE- S.W. QUEENSLAND East Margin of Simpson Desert (miles N.E. of B.) DATE 26TH MAY 1940 SPECIES Reddish Sandy Brush Tailed Kangaroo-Rat. SEX ♀ CONDITION GONADS. no sign of pregnancy though I believe the specimen has had young ones. SHOT 12P.M- 6A.M. W.GHT. 36' 45. gm. SKL. TOTAL. 2 34 mm. TAIL. 131 mm. H.F.C.U. 31mm. H.E.A.C. 23mm. STM. ½, full chewed green vegetable matter, probably some of the green lurbage which has grown up where flood waters recently covered the flats, when the Diamintumer was recntly in flood'. Captured in a mouse trap baited with cheese and set beside a pad. MOULT WING R. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Sec. L. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Sec. TAIL R. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. L. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. UP COVS. UND. COVS. UP COVS. UND. COVS. BODY UPPERS-RUMP UPPER BACK NAPE CROWN CHEEKS UNDERS-VENT. BELLY BREAST NECK CHIN LOWER BACK FLANKS ABR. W. T. W./T. SKULL NUMBERED. M. 5. REMARKS Iris brown? black. Nose pads pink flesh. Though never seen this species must be abundant without a doubt. When digging them out one seems invariably to damage the tail which seems to become detached extremely easily, so much so that it would almost appear as if in a very much lesser degree this species was able to shed its tail like a lizard. The brush is very conspicuous as the animal drops away & doubtless would catch the eye of an attacking bird or mammal. Tracks where foxes have been digging them out may be found & these dug out burrows are invariably short ones, pointing to this being done at night when the animal is making new burrows or flees for protection to the nearest under ground refuse handy (no killer ant's the only out and put folks under ground). They are doubtless scentled & dug out by the fox.