‘A Tapoa Tafa’ [Brush-tailed phascogale]

Zoological study of the Brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) a marsupial native to Australia.

Plate 58 from Journal of a voyage to New South Wales...by John White (J.Debrett, London, 1790).

The accompanying text states that: “This animal is the size of a rat, and, has very much the appearance of the martin cat...”

The plate is inscribed: “S.Stone delin. A Tapoa Tafa. Published as the Act directs Dec: 29, 1789, by J.Debrett.”

“The Public may rely, with the most perfect confidence, on the care and accuracy with which the Drawings have been copied from nature, by Miss Stone, Mr.Catton, Mr.Nodder, and other artists; and the Editor flatters himself the Engravings are all executed with equal correctness, by, or under the immediate inspection of Mr.Milton. The Birds, &c. from which the drawings were taken are deposited in the Leverian Museum.”