﻿THE MARSUPIAL ANT-EATERS. 1 85 



with close, short hairs ; rufous on the backs, and yellowish 

 internally. Claws dark horn-colour; third front toe shorter than 

 the second and fourth ; soles of fore feet with five small, round, 

 finely granulated pads ; those of the hind feet hairy, and 

 with only three pads. Tail long-haired above, shorter haired 

 beneath; the long upper hairs being grizzled yellow and black, 

 and the short lower ones rich rufous. Length of head and 

 body about lo inches; of tail 7 inches. 



Distribution. — South and West Australia. 



Habits. — The first specimens known to Europeans of this 

 beautiful little animal, which may be compared in size to an 

 ordinary Squirrel, were obtained by an English subaltern — Mr. 

 Dale, — during an exploring expedition in the interior of the 

 country in the Swan River district. According to the original 

 account, " two of these animals were seen within a few miles of 

 each other ; they were first observed on the ground, and on 

 being pursued, both directed their flight to some hollow trees 

 which were near. We succeeded in capturing one of them ; 

 the other was unfortunately burnt to death in our endeavour 

 to dislodge it by fumigating the hollow tree in which it had 

 taken refuge ; — the country in which they were found abounding 

 in decayed trees and ant-hills.'' 



The specimen thus captured was brought to England and 

 put into the hands of Waterhouse, by whom it was described 

 under the name by which the animal is universally known. 

 From the character of its teeth, coupled with its long, extensile 

 tongue, and strong curved claws, this sagacious naturalist, 

 taking into consideration the description of the country where 

 the first example was captured, came to the conclusion that the 

 creature lived on ants, which it first dug out from their nests, 

 and then licked up with his tongue. This inference, it need 

 scarcely be mentioned, has been fully confirmed by actual 

 observation. 



