﻿72 ALLEN'S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



Hypsipryninus rufescens, Waterhouse, Jardine's Naturalist's 



Library, Mamm., vol. xi., p. i88 (1841). 

 /Epyprymnus riifesce?is, Garrod, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875, p. 59 ; 



Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 103 (1888). 

 Characters. — The largest of the Rat-Kangaroos, easily distin- 

 guished from all the other members of the sub-family by its 

 ruddy colour, black-backed ears, whitish hip-stripe, and hairy 

 nose. Nose hairy for about half way down the septum between 

 the nostrils ; fur long and coarse. General colour rufescent 

 grey ; under-parts dirty white ; an indistinct white stripe across 

 the side in front of the hip ; back of ears black or dark 

 brown ; outside of hind legs grey ; rest of legs white ; hair 

 on back of fore paws black and coarse, partially covering the 

 claws ; feet brown or greyish-brown ; central hind claw long 

 and strong ; tail thickly haired, without crest, pale grey above, 

 white beneath. Length of head and body about 21 inches; 

 of tail 15 inches. 



Distribution. — New South Wales ; fossil in the caves of the Wel- 

 lington Valley, N.S.W. 



Habits. — This species is extremely common in New South 

 Wales, feeding on roots and grasses, and seeking shelter, when 

 pursued, in hollow logs or holes in the ground, after running 

 with great speed for a short distance, and taking a series of 

 bounds, immense for so small an animal, during its flight. In 

 the daytime this Rat-Kangaroo lies securely coiled up in its 

 nest, which is formed of dry grasses, and usually placed beneath 

 fsome fallen log, or under the shelter of a low bush of shrub. 

 Occasionally the creature prefers a "form," like that of a Hare, 

 /among low herbage, but it is never by any chance found rest- 

 ing in the open plains, thus differing markedly from the Tas- 

 manian Rat-Kangaroo. 



In captivity this species is readily tamed, and appears to 

 become really attached to its owner. 



