﻿tHE MARStfPlAt MOLES. i^t 



It as it goes, so that no permanent tunnel is left to mark its 

 course. Again emerging, at some distance, it travels for a few 

 feet upon the surface and then descends as before. I could 

 hear nothing of its making, or occupying at any time, perma- 

 nent burrows. Both my informants," continues Dr. Stirling, 

 "lay great stress on the phenomenal rapidity with which it can 

 burrow, as observed both in a state of nature, and in captivity." 

 From this account the Marsupial Mole may be said to swim in 

 the sand much in the same manner as a Porpoise or a Dolphin 

 swims in the ocean, alternately disappearing for a short dis- 

 tance beneath the surface, and progressing with its body 

 exposed. From the nature of the soil, and its periodical 

 appearances on the surface, it will be obvious that the creature 

 has not to perform work anything like as hard as that under- 

 gone by the Common Mole in the excavation of its under- 

 ground tunnels. The reader will not fail to notice the beauti- 

 ful adaptation of the creature to its surroundings as exemplified 

 by the harmony existing between the coloration of its fur and 

 that of the red sand of the desert. 



Further information as to the habits of the Marsupial Mole 

 was supplied to Dr. Stirling by Mr. Bishop from observations 

 made on a specimen in captivity. The latter gentleman 

 having a living example brought to him, he kept it, writes Dr. 

 Stirling, " in a box of sand, in which was placed a tussock of 

 porcupine-grass {Triodia irriians), so as to niiitate its natural 

 surroundings as nearly possible. At the same time precautions 

 against exposure to cold were taken by covering up the box 

 with blankets, and the sand in the box was frequently changed, 

 the fresh supply being first warmed and moistened. It was 

 fed on the ' witchetty ' [a kind of grub] previously referred to, 

 two or three small grubs or a single large one being given daily. 

 These it ate with such evident eagerness and avidity as to sug- 

 gest that the animal was accustomed to that kind of food. 



