THE RABBIT-BANDICOOTS. 133 
Perameles lagotis, Waterhouse, Cat. Mamm. Mus. Zool. Soc., 
p. 65 (1838). 
Perameles (Peragalea) macrotis, Gray, in Grey’s Australia, 
Appendix, vol. ii., p. 401 (1841). 
Peragale lagotis, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus., p. 96 (1843) ; 
Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. 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. 
Distrihution—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, 
