Wood Jones — Tiialacomys 337 



removed in the excavation, the monnd of debris at the entrance consists of no 

 more tlian a bucketful. 



By Krefft it is said not to be so ferocious as its large canines ■would lead one 

 to sus])('ct. To a certain extent that is true, and the animal can only be 

 described as an extremely inoffensive creature. Nevertheless, all those Avith 

 whicli I hfive had to deal have needed the exercise of considerable caution in their 

 handling-. They bite readily and savagely when interfered with, and though the 

 bite nuiy not l)e very severe, it is aggravated by the fact that the animal will not 

 readily let go, and inflicts multiple bites from a single hold. Bilbies are strictly 

 nocturnal, and come abroad at a later hour than any other marsupials that I have 

 observed. Those that I have had liA'ing in captivity (in a large open-air run) 

 have often been noticed to appear at dusk, l)nt, after a hurried look roimd, to 

 retreat to bed again, and not reappear for an hour or so. They seem, however, 

 to have no objection to moonlight. During the daytime they sleep in a remarkable 

 posture. No bilby that I have observed — even including one that had lost a 

 hind leg in a rabbit trap — ever really lay down to sleep. The long ears are laid 

 back, and then folded forwards against the side of the head, so that the tips 

 come forward over the eyes, and alongside. the snout. The animal then scjuats on 

 its hmd legs, and tucks its long snout between its fore legs, so making itself into a 

 round silky ball, the tail being protruded straight behind it or flexed forwards 

 right underneath the body. When the animal wakes in the evening it often starts 

 its perambulation with one ear laid back and the other still doubled forwards in 

 the sleeping position. It is curious that, though the ears are kinked flat upon 

 themselves for the greater part of the time, there is no indication in them of a 

 crease or folding line where the flexure takes place. 



In any gait the hind limbs move together. In slow progression the fore limbs 

 move alternately ; in more rapid movements they move in unison, but alternately 

 with the synchronously acting hind limbs. Waterhouse noted of one whicli 

 lived in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London that, "when walking, 

 the hind legs only were used, and these were very widely separated. The tail 

 assisted slightly in supporting the body, which was but little raised in front" 

 (p. 361). I cannot help thinking that this is an erroneous observation. It is 

 quite true that the hind legs are widely separated, and that the body is but little 

 raised in front ; but I do not think that the animal ever progresses on its hind 

 legs alone in true saltatory fashion. 



It can make a good pace, though its progress always appears to be shuffling 

 and somewhat ungainly. Its greatest safeguard is its aptitude for digging itself 

 in, and the speed with which it can make for the shelter of its burrow. 



[n almost all published figures, and in most mounted specimens, the animal 



