Strange Creatures in Australia.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1921, Page 1

Strange Cr eatures in Australia.

\ NKW HAItKOT AND NKST lil 11-DINC HATS. SYDNKY, Oetoher 1. Tli,. nmioiin<ement that Mr \Vitl<i<-U „1„, i, !lrt made sum'' rcinnrkabro finds in |,is travels liver wild parts of Australia on lu'half uf tin' piil'ln - spirited private ,„11,Mr 11. 1.. White, of Helbrees N S.W.. has discovered a new aperies of parrot, reminds nne of numerous lit-llo-known e ream res that tind their lnnm* in tliis c«>ntim*nt. Mr AVitWk s parrot is similar in many resperts to the lilue hiinnet. parrot-, though coiisiderab!v smaller and has heel, found m the \ a thee in. distriet in Western Aa»tralia. That vast trnet of land has ......'I. to offer id the way to researeh and with the help of the llorden fund two s,demists are about m leave for the Nllahor Plains and the Dreat. Saiull,ill regions where the rare handed ant-eater is said l.y the aborigines to he found. A visit is to he made f’lddea. near whieh tin, sandhill country n, st-lmildirig rat (true rodent and not . marsnpial) is very plentiful. This meets the plain. There the e'l,ions .at, whieh boohs remarkably like a young rahhit and has some very rab-bit-like hahits. builds a nest of sticks. In one respect it seems to have copied the marsupial. I.neking a pouch to net. into the y.oung rats cling to tile I'm- under their mol her’s body when limy are carried away. Away to the north, towards the Musgrave ranees, there is a. rat. apparently the same or closely allied to this, though it has not vet hecn examined or describedwhich Ijtiilds :i nest of stones. After C'oldeu the scientists will spend some weeks out on the Nullahor plains The limestone caverns which almond in those parts are stated to harhour curious forms of life.