a. 
THE MARSUPIAL ANT-EATERS, 185 
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 10 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. 
