370 



The Living Animals of the World 



Insects and worms, in addition to a main diet of vegetable matter, contribute to the bandicoot's 

 somewhat heterogeneous menu. 



The wood- and root-boring larvae of a moth which infests the Australian wattle- or acacia- 

 trees are a very favourite food with several of the species, and it is worthy of remark that 

 the bandicoots are not alone in displaying a penchant for this delicacy. Under the title of 

 " bardies " they are collected and highly esteemed for food by the natives of Western Australia, 

 who eat them either cooked or raw. These larvae are, moreover, acceptable to many European 

 palates, and the writer has witnessed little faggot-like bundles of them brought round by the 

 natives to the hotels at Geraldton, Western Australia, for sale or barter to chance customers. 

 It may be observed in this connection that the analogous wood-boring larvae of the goat-moth, 

 which were kept and specially fattened for the occasion, constituted one of the dainty dishes of 

 the luxurious Eomans. 



One of the commonest species found in Tasmania is known as the BANDED or STRIPED- 

 BACKED BANDICOOT, being so named on account of the characteristic markings of its far. The 

 general ground-colour of the coat is an almost equal admixture of black and yellow hairs, the 

 black tint, however, prevailing on the back, and the lighter one on the sides. The hind- 

 quarters are, however, variegated by the presence of some three or four broad transverse stripes 

 that are almost entirely black, while the intervening spaces are a light whitish yellow. A 

 few shorter stripes are sometimes continued as far as the root of the tail, this appendage also 

 having a dark line running along its upper surface. The head is of a somewhat lighter tint 

 than the remainder of the body, while the breast, abdomen, and feet are white, slightly 

 tinged with grey. The transversely striped pattern of ornamentation of the hindquarters 

 of this bandicoot is of interest with relation to the circumstance that a similarly located 

 banded variegation of the fur occurs also in the Tasmanian wolf, or thylacine, and in the 

 banded ant-eater, described in a following section. As a colour-pattern it would appear to 

 be quite peculiar to these marsupials, no such restriction of the markings occurring among the 

 higher or placental mammals. In the South African suricate, a member of the Ichneumon 

 Tribe, in which the nearest approach to this dorsal banding is met with, the stripes are 

 equally developed as far forward as the base of the neck. 



Both the banded and other species of bandicoots are extremely swift and active in their 

 movements, and are at the same time noted for the singularity of their gait. This consists 

 of a half-running and half-jumping action, induced by the peculiar structure of their feet and 

 greater length of the hind legs, which are modified on a plan intermediate between that of 

 the kangaroos and the dasyures, or native cats. The back of the animal while running being 



highly arched, adds to the grotesque- 

 ness of its appearance. Like the native 

 cats, the pouch in the bandicoots 

 opens backwards; it is furnished 

 with eight teats, but not more than 

 two young are usually produced at 

 a birth. 



The striped-backed bandicoot is- 

 not infrequently adopted as a house- 

 hold pet, in spite of its notorious 

 garden depredations. When thus 

 domesticated, it appears to be capable 

 of developing a strong attachment for 

 its owner. One that was owned by 

 friends of the writer especially attached 

 itself to the lady of the house. It was- 

 acquired when quite young, having 

 escaped from the pouch of an adult 



Photo by W. SavMe-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Hta. 



LOXG-XOSED AUSTRALIAN BANDICOOT. 

 Bandicoots, although larger, have somewhat the appearance of shrews. 



