THE KANGAROO RAT. 479 
It is an active little creature, and not easily caught even by fair speed, and has a habit 
of leaping aside when it is hard pressed and jumping into some crevice where it effectually 
conceals itself. It is extremely common over the whole of New South Wales. The 
colour of the fur is a grey-brown above, and the under parts of the body are of a greyish- 
white. 
The Kancaroo Rat, called by the natives the Pororoo, is a native of New South 
Wales, where it is found in very oreat numbers. 
It is but a diminutive animal, the head and body being only fifteen inches long, and 
the tail between ten and eleven inches. The colour of the fur is brownish-black, pencilled 
along the back with a grey-white. The under parts of the body are white, and the fore- 
feet are brown. The tail is equal to the body in length, and is covered with scales, through 
the intervals of which sundry short, stiff, and black hairs protrude. 
This little animal frequents the less open districts, and is very quick and lively in its 
movements, whether it be indulging in its native gamesomeness or engaged in the search 
for food. Roots of various kinds’ are the favourite “diet of the Kangaroo R at, and in order 
KANGAROO RAT.—Hypsiprynuvus minor, 
to obtain these dainties the animal scratches them from the ground with the powerful 
claws of the fore-feet. It is specially fond of potatoes, and often commits considerable 
havoe ina kitchen-garden by exhuming and carrying away the seed-potatoes. In retalia- 
tion for these injuries the owner of the “garde on sets traps about his potato-erounds, and by 
means of baiting them with the coveted roots entices numbers of Potoroos into the 
treacherous snare. 
' The movements of the Kangaroo Rats do not in the least resemble those of the 
Kangaroos themselves, for although they can sit erect upon their hind-legs, they cannot 
make those vigorous leaps which are so characteristic of the Kangaroos, nor can they 
manipulate their food with their fore-paws and carry it to their mouth by means of those 
limbs. Their gait, especially when chased, is a curious kind of gallop, very unequal, but 
tolerably swift, They are very timid and harmless animals, and when captured or 
attacked do not kick or make any violent resistance, contenting themselves with 
expressing their indignation by an angry hiss. 
They are not so exclusively nocturnal as many of the preceding animals, and seem to 
be equally lively by day as by night. When the animal is sitting upon its hinder portions, 
the tail receives part of the weight of the body, but is not used in the same manner as 
