THE MARSUPIAL MOLES. 1g 
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. [rom 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 (Z7iodia irritans), so as to imitate 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. 
