PERAMELES. 21 



large quantities of the seeds, roots, and bulbs planted by the 

 farmers, but also by being the especial enemy of earth-worms, 

 which by their constant and equable trituration of the soil, and 

 their introduction below the surface by means of their excreta of 

 such foreign substances as decaying leaves, &c., are generally ac- 

 cepted now as most potent friends of agriculture. These animals 

 fall natui^ally into two very distinct groups, the former of which, 

 represented by P. yunni and its allies, inhabits the " stony ridges 

 of the hotter and more exposed parts," while the latter, repre- 

 sented by P. obesula and its allies, is restricted to "low swampy 

 grounds covered with dense vegetation." 



From the Caves of the Wellington Valley, N.S. Wales, numer- 

 ous remains of Bandicoots have been secured in a fossil state, but 

 agreeing so intimately with recent forms as to make it injudicious 

 to separate them ; the species represented are as follows : Pera- 

 meles bougainvillii, P. nasnta, P. obesula, an undescribed species 

 of Perameles and Peragale lagotis. 



1. PERAMELES BOUGAINVILLII, Qtioy & Gaimard (1821). 

 Western Striped Bandicoot. 



Size small ; form light and delicate. Fur coarse, but not spinous. 

 Muzzle long and slender. Ears long, narrow, and pointed, reach- 

 ing when laid forward beyond the eye ; their backs grayish-flesh- 

 color, slightly darker on the anterior portion of their terminal 

 half. General color above grizzled olive-gray ; below white ; 

 sides of rump with ill-defined stripes. Soles hairy and black 

 posteriorly ; naked, granulated, and flesh-colored anteriorly; con- 

 spicuous round pads at bases of fourth and fifth toes. Tail 

 moderate, brown above, white below. Mammae eight. 



Dimensions. Head and body about nine inches ; tail about 

 four and a quarter inches. 



Habitat. West Australia. 



References. Thomas, B.M. Catal. p. 246, pi. xxi. figs. 7 (ear], 

 S (sole) ; Gould, Mamin. Austr. i. pi. x. 



la. P. BOUGAINVILLII, var. FASCIATA, Gray (1841). 

 Eastern Striped Bandicoot. 



Difl'ers from the typical form only in the stronger contrast 

 between the dark and light patches on the back of the ears, and 

 in the rump-stripes being well defined and conspicuous. 



Habitat. South-eastern and southern Australia. 



References. Thomas, B. M. Catal. p. 248 ; Gould, Mamm. 

 Austr. i. pi. viii. 



