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148 _ _LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
menced the journey up the left bank of the Murray, immedi- 
ately after crossing that river.” 
The most remarkable statement in this account is the 
alleged occurrence of fossilised remains of this animal in the 
caves of the Wellington Valley, since, among all the vast num- 
bers of bones subsequently acquired from that district by the 
British Museum, none are referable to the Pig-footed Bandi- 
coot. It may be remarked, in passing, that from the structure 
of this family, it might have been thought that the backward 
direction of the opening of the pouch was the original con- 
dition among the Marsupials, and that its forward direction in 
the Kangaroos, and other forms which habitually maintain a 
more or less nearly upright position, had been acquired in order 
to prevent the helpless young from falling out. The condition 
prevailing in the Dasyuride disproves, however, this view. Bur- 
rowing in the ground like the other members of the family, the 
Pig-footed Bandicoot seems to be omnivorous in its tastes, but 
appears to be specially fond of insects. Sturt states that in 
the Darling district these animals are generally found lying out 
in the grass, and that when chased by dogs they almost in- 
variably took refuge, after a short run, in hollow logs, from 
which they were readily cut out. In the open they squat like 
Rabbits, laying back their broad ears along the shoulders in a 
very similar manner. When confined ina box, captured speci- 
mens ate sparingly of grass and tender leaves, although show- 
ing a much greater partiality for flesh. The latter diet did not, 
however, appear to suit their constitution, all the specimens 
dying in succession. | 
Although still found thirty years ago on the plains of the | 
Murray district, Krefft states that it was even then rapidlybecom- , 
ing rare, owing to the increase of cattle and sheep. After much 
trouble, that observer succeeded in securing some living speci- 
nens, whose history he recounts as follows: ‘About sun- 
