BRUSH-TAILED ^W\^O^G.—Bctlo,n/>apcmcmdfa. 



The Brush-tailed Bettong is a nocturnal animal, and lies ciu'led up during 

 the entire day, issuing forth from its nest as the shades of evening begin to draw 

 on. The nest of the Brush-tailed Bettong is a very ingenious specimen of 

 architectm-e, and is so admirably constructed, that it can hardly be detected 

 by a Eiu'opean eye, even when it is pointed out to him. The native, however, 

 whose watchful eye notes even the bending of a leaf in the wrong place, or the 

 touch of a claw upon the tree trunk, seldom passes in the vicinity of one of these 

 nests without discovering it and killing its inmates, by dashing his tomahaAvk at 

 random into the mass of leaves and grass. 



The manner in which the animal conveys the materials of its nest to the spot 

 where they are required is most remarkable. After selecting a proper supply of 

 dried grass, the creature makes it up into a sheaf, and twisting her prehensile tail 

 round the bundle, hops away merrily with her burden. It is almost impossible 

 to comprehend the extreme" quaintness of the aspect which is presented by a 

 Jerboa Kangaroo engaged in this manner without actual experience, or the aid of 

 a very admirable and spirited drawing. When the animal has completed its 

 nest, and the young are lying snugly in its warm recesses, the young family 

 is effectually concealed from sight by the address of the mother, who invariably 

 (bags a tuft of grass over the entrance whenever she leaves or enters her grassy 

 home. 



IDS 



