﻿74 ALLEN'S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



Pkopus nudkaudatus, Owen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. 

 XX., p. 542 (1877). 



Characters. — Fur close, crisp, and velvety ; the naked and 

 rounded ears of a blackish flesh-colour, with some hair at the 

 base of the back. General colour finely grizzled rusty orange- 

 grey, the orange tinge being most marked on the back. Fore 

 feet with the toes naked and scaly, and the sole furnished with 

 five large transversely ridged pads ; in the hind feet the upper 

 surface of fourth toe alone hairy ; and the five pads on the sole 

 transversely striated. Tail black above ; paler beneath. Length 

 of head and body about 10 inches ; of tail 6^ inches. 



Distribution. — North Queensland, in the Herbert river dis- 

 trict. 



Habits. — Having very much the general appearance of a large 

 Rat, both as regards size and form, the Musk-Kangaroo appears 

 to be partly terrestrial and partly arboreal in its habits, while 

 its food includes insects, roots, and fruits. According to its 

 original describer, it frequents the densest and dampest portions 

 of the scrubs fringing the rivers and clothing the coast-range. 

 Although in such situations this interesting little creature is far 

 from rare, yet its shy and retiring disposition, coupled with the 

 density of the forest which it frequents, render it difficult to 

 obtain. Mainly diurnal in its habits, and, when undisturbed, 

 by no means ungraceful in its movements, the Musk-Kangaroo 

 procures its food on the ground by turning over leaves, twigs, 

 and stones for the sake of the insects and worms that lie con- 

 cealed beneath, while roots are dug up with its claws. At 

 times it may be seen sitting up on its haunches and munching 

 palm-berries, which are held in the fore paws, after the manner 

 of a Squirrel. Except in the case of parents and their young, it 

 is rare that more than two individuals are seen in company. 

 The breeding season takes place during the period of the rains, 



