56 



MAMMALIAN GALLERY. 



are three species, all very similar externally, distributed over the 

 whole of Australia and Tasmania, and living on roots and other 

 vegetable food. They often exceed 100 Ib. in weight, and are 

 valued as food. 



4. The Bandicoots [Perametida] are distinguished by the struc- 

 ture of their fore feet in which two or three of the middle toes 

 are long and subequal^ while the others are quite rudimentary by 

 the Kangaroo-like structure of their hind feet, and by the large 

 number of their lower incisor teeth, of which there are six, the- 

 Kangaroos having two only in this position. The most striking 



Fig. 22. 



Tasmanian Wolf (Thylacinus cynoceplialus). 



members of the family are : The Striped Bandicoot (Perameles 

 fasciata) of Tasmania ; the Long-nosed Bandicoot (P. raffrayana) 

 of New Guinea ; the long-eared rabbit-like Peragale lagotis of 

 Western Australia; and the extraordinary little Pig-footed Ban- 

 dicoot (Choeropus castanotis), an animal somewhat resembling a 

 rat, but with fore feet which remind us of those of a pig. 



5. Allied to the Peramelida are the carnivorous Dasyurida, in 

 which the feet are of the ordinary mammalian type, with five toes 

 on the fore and four on the hind pair. To this family belong : 



