478 THE BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG. 
The BruSsH-TAILED BETTONG, or JERBOA KANGAROO, as it is sometimes called, affords an 
excellent example of the genus Bettongia, in which are collected a small group of Kan- 
garoos that are easily distinguished by their peculiarly short and broad heads. In size it 
equals a common hare, the head and body being about fourteen inches in length, and the 
tail about eleven inches, without including the tuft which decorates its extremity. The 
general colour of the animal is a palish brown hberally pencilled with white, and the 
under parts are of a pale greyish-white. The “brush” is black, and the under side of the 
tail is brownish-white. 
It is a nocturnal animal, and lies curled up during the entire day, issuing forth from its 
nest as the shades of evening begin to draw on. The nest of the Brush-tailed Bettong 
is a very ingenious specimen of architecture, and is so admirably constructed, that it can 
hardly be detected by a European eye, even when it is pointed out to him. The native, 
however, whose watchful eye notes even the bending of a leaf in the wrong place, or the 
touch of a claw upon the tree trunk, seldom passes in the vicinity of one of these nests 
without discovering it and killing its inmates, by dashing his tomahawk at random into 
the mass of leaves and grass. 
BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG.—Beilongia Penicillata. 
As this animal resides chiefly on grassy hills and dry ridges, it is no easy matter to 
make a nest that shall be sufficiently large to contain the female and her young, and yet 
so inconspicuous as not to attract attention. The manner in which the nest is made is 
briefly as follows. 
The animal searches for some suitable depression in the earth, enlarging it till it is 
sufficiently capacious, and builds a curious edifice of leaves and grass over the cavity, so 
that when she has completed her task, the roof of the nest is on a level with the growing 
evass. For additional safety, the nest is usually placed under the shelter of a large grass 
tuft or a convenient bush. 
The manner in which the animal conveys the materials of its nest to the spot where 
they are required is most remarkable. After selecting a proper supply of dried grass, the 
creature makes it up into a sheaf, and twisting her prehensile tail round the bundle, hops 
away merrily with her burden. It is almost impossible to comprehend the extreme 
quaintness of the aspect which is presented by a Jerboa Kangaroo engaged in this manner 
without actual experience, or the aid of a very admirable and spirited drawing. When 
the animal has completed its nest, and the young are lying snugly in its warm recesses, 
the young family is effectually concealed from sight by the address of the mother, who 
eee drags a tuft of grass over the entrance whenever she leaves or enters her grassy 
home, 
