138 MUSK- KANGAROO 



B. lesueuri burrows in the ground, often to so great a depth as 1 

 feet. The genus occurs in Tasmania as well as in Australia. 



Caloprymnus, with one species, is a genus instituted by Mr. 

 Thomas in his Catalogue of Marsupials for a form (C. campestris) 

 which combines in a remarkable way the characters of Aepyprym- 

 nus, Bettongia, and Potorous. The external characters and the 

 general shape of the skull are as in Bettongia, while the molars 

 have the structure of those of Aepyprymnus. The last premolar 

 is as in Potorous. 



Of the genus Potorous there are three species, which are 

 Tasmanian as well as Australian. Unlike the other Rat- 

 Kangaroos, the hind-feet are comparatively short, and the animal 

 is therefore less addicted . to jumping than its relatives. The 

 rhinarium is naked, and the ears are of fair length. 



Sub-Fam. 3. Hypsiprymnodontinae. The Musk-Kangaroo, 

 Hypsiprymnodon, is the last genus of the present family, and the 

 only genus of this sub-family. It is intermediate between the 

 Macropodidae and the Phalangeridae, the annectant character 

 being mainly the hind-feet, which though they have the same 

 long fourth digit as the Kangaroos, have it more feebly developed, 

 and possess also an opposable hallux, which is one of the salient 

 features in the structure of the Phalangeridae. The tail is naked 

 and scaly ; the rhinarium is entirely naked. The ears are large 

 and not furry. The single species, H. moschatus, appears to feed 

 upon insects as well as vegetables. 



" Its habits are chiefly diurnal, and its actions when not dis- 

 turbed by no means ungraceful. It progresses in much the same 

 manner as the Kangaroo - Rats (Potorous\ to which it is 

 closely allied, but procures its food by turning over the de'bris in 

 the scrubs in search of insects, worms, and tuberous roots, 

 frequently eating the palm berries, which it holds in its fore- 

 paws after the manner of the Phalangers, sitting up on its 

 haunches, or sometimes digging like the bandicoots." This is 

 Mr. Ramsay's description of the animal, which he was the first 

 to discover. 1 



Fam. 2. Phalangeridae. The genus Hypsiprymnodon bridges 



over the not very wide gap which separates the Kangaroos from 



the Phalangers. The Phalangers are Marsupials with five fingers 



and toes ; the second and third toes are bound together by a 



1 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, i. 1877. p. 34. 



