"TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1905: A rare Australian animal, a live bilby or rabbit bandicoot, peragale lagotis Reid, was received this week by the Technological Museum at Ultimo from its Goulburn branch, being a donation from Mr.W. E. O'Brien, of Bourke.

"As it is a pity to cut short the life of such a rare and interesting animal, it has been forwarded to the Zoological Gardens, Sydney, there to remain for the rest of its natural life.

"The bilby was once fairly common on the grassy slopes of the Swan River district, W.A, and in certain central parts, but is now rarely seen.

"It forms a burrow in the ground; this burrow has but one entrance, and is of considerable extent.

"The bilby's food consists of fruit, insects and grubs, it being particularly fond of fat white beetle lavae found about acacia roots.

"These are grubs which the blacks themselves are said to have held in high esteem as food.

"Kreff, at one time curator at the Australian museum, says of this pretty animal: 'It will sometimes happen that the peragale takes advantage of the mound raised upon a departed blackfellow's grave, providing for itself a habitation beneath the native's weary bones.

"Upon this ground it has been asserted that the animal dug out the dead bodies of the natives and fed upon them. Such a statement is, however, totally unfounded'."

Alternatives to western medicine were in vogue in the district at this time with an Oriental doctor conducting a part time practice.

"DR. DELPH SING, the Indian doctor, will visit Queanbeyan on the morning of June 8 and depart on the evening of June 9.

"During his stay stay in this town he may be consulted at Pooley's Hotel."

Those unwilling to wait for the good doctor could always try a patent medicine.

"BONNINGTON's IRISH MOSS can produce more evidence of genuine merit than any other cough remedy.

"It is good for old or young. Sold everywhere."