﻿THE RADBIT-BANDICOOTS. T33 



Peraine!e<s lagofis^ Waterhouse, Cat. Mamm. Mus. Zool, Soc, 



p. 65 (1838). 

 Ferameles {Perat^alea) inacrotis^ Gray, in Grey's Australia, 



Appendix, vol. ii., p. 401 (1841). 

 Feragaie iagotis, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus., p. 96 (1843); 



Thomas, Cat. Marsup. f]rit. Mus., p. 223 (1888). 



{Plate XX.) 



Characters. — Size large ; form light and delicate ; fur very 

 long, soft, and silky. General colour fawn-grey ; under-parts 

 white ; cheeks and bases of ears white or pale fawn ; an in- 

 distinct darker vertical band on the side of the rump. Ears 

 nearly naked, their edges and the anterior part of the backs 

 thinly clothed with brown hairs. Outer sides of the fore, and 

 backs of the hind limbs dark grey grizzled with white; elsewhere 

 both limbs white ; soles of hind feet almost wholly covered with 

 thick hair. Tail of moderate length, thickly haired throughout, 

 the basal third coloured like the body, the middle third black 

 or dark brown, and the terminal moiety white and prominently 

 crested above. Length of head and body about 18 inches ; of 

 tail 9 inches. 



Distribution. — South and West Australia. 



Habits. — About equal in size to an ordinary Rabbit, the com- 

 mon Rabbit-Bandicoot derives its colonial name of Native 

 Rabbit, from its large and elongated ears, and consequent 

 general resemblance to 'the familiar Rodent. It is stated to 

 be fairly abundant on the extensive grassy tracts bordering 

 the Swan river, where it is usually found in pairs. Here it 

 usually frequents such spots as have a loose soil, suitable for 

 the excavation of its burrows. To these holes it at once flies 

 when pursued, and thus once more recalls the familiar Euro- 

 pean animal from which it derives the first half of its name. 



