﻿'i"HE PlG-FOOtED BANDICOOT. t4Q 



down, when I was about to secure my animals for the night, 

 one of the nmiblest made its escape, jumping clean through 

 the wires of its cage. At a quick pace it ran up one of the 

 sandstone cliffs, followed by myself, all the black-fellows, men, 

 women, and children, and their dogs. Here was a splendid 

 opportunity for observing the motions of the animal, and I 

 availed myself of it. The Choeropus progressed like a broken- 

 down hack in a canter, apparently dragging the hind-quarters 

 after it ; we kept in sight of the fugitive, and, after a splendid 

 run up and down the sand-hills, our pointer, who had been 

 let loose, brought it to bay in a salt-bush. A large tin-case 

 was fitted up for the habitation of these animals, and provided 

 with coarse barley-grass, upon which, as the natives informed 

 me, they feed. Insects, particularly grasshoppers, were also 

 put into the box, and, though they were rather restless at first, 

 and made vain attempts to jump out, they appeared snug 

 enough in the morning, having constructed a completely 

 covered nest with the grass and some dried leaves. 



" During the daytime, they always kept in their hiding- 

 places, and, when disturbed, quickly returned to them ; but, 

 as soon as the sun was down, they became lively, jumping 

 about and scratching the bottom of the case in their attempts 

 to regain liberty. I kept these animals upon lettuces, barley- 

 grass, bread, and some bulbous roots, for six weeks." 



The Pig-footed Bandicoot is a free drinker, but never attacks 

 Mice, after the manner of the other members of the family. 

 Although provided with eight teats, the female produces only 

 a pair of young at a birth, these probably making their ap- 

 pearance in May or June. It is noteworthy that in the young 

 animal the third toe of the fore foot is relatively more 

 developed than in the adult. It does not appear that this 

 -aiiunai has ever been exhibited alive in Enuland. 



