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.