THE PIG-FOOTED BANDICOOT. 149 
down, when I was about to secure my animals for the night, 
one of the nimblest 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 Cherofus 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 
animal has ever been exhibited alive in England. 
