cat, native

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


a small carnivorous marsupial,of the genus Dasyurus. The so-called native cat is nota cat at all, but a marsupial which resembles a very large rator weasel, with rather a bushy tail. It is fawn-coloured ormouse-coloured, or black and covered with little white spots; avery pretty little animal. It only appears at night, when itclimbs fences and trees and forms sport for moonlight shooting.Its skin is made into fancy rugs and cloaks or mantles.

The animal is more correctly called a Dasyure (q.v.).

The species are – – Black-tailed Native Cat Dasyurus geoffroyi, Gould.

Common N.C. (called also Tiger Cat, q.v.) – – D. viverrimus, Shaw.

♣ North Australian N.C. – – D. hallucatus, Gould.

♣ Papuan N.C. – – D. albopienetatus, Schl.

♣ Slender N.C. – – D. gracilis, Ramsay.

♣ Spotted-tailed N.C. (called also Tiger Cat) – – D. maculatus, Kerr.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 67:

«The native cat is similar [to the Tiger Cat; q.v.] butsmaller, and its for is an ashy-grey with white spots.We have seen two or three skins quite black, spotted with white,but these are very rare.»

1885. H. H.Hayter, `Carboona,' p. 35:

«A blanket made of the fur-covered skins of the native cat.»

1894. `The Argus,' June 23, p. 11, col. 4:

«The voices of most of our night animals are guttural andunpleasing. The 'possum has a throaty half-stifled squeak,the native cat a deep chest-note ending with a hiss and easilyimitated.» [See Skirr.]

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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