BANDED WALLABY 151 



I understand, in a genus by itself, of which it is the solitary 

 representative. This is the banded wallaby {Lagostrophus 

 fasciatus) which is so small that medium sized individuals 

 only weigh seven or eight pounds. The habits of this 

 animal differ in some degree from those of other wallabies. 

 It creeps under the dense herbage, forming tunnels which 

 completely conceal it, and enable it to travel across the 

 country without exposing any part of its body to view. It 

 is consequently very difficult to get shots at it. But it 

 sometimes ventures into the sandy desert tracts, and then, 

 if disturbed, it squats in the nearest patch of scrub, where 

 it will lie quietly until it is nearly trodden upon. It does 

 not seem to be numerous near King George's Sound, but 

 on account of its peculiar habit, it is difficult to ascertain 

 much about its numbers or mode of life. It prefers moist 

 gullies for its haunt, and often inhabits ground which is 

 very wet and swampy — and such as is avoided by other 

 members of the family. 



There are several species of rat-kangaroo in this district 

 of which I have identified two only. The first is the 

 common brush-tailed rat-kangaroo {Bettongia penicillatd) ^ 

 which is found everywhere round the eastern and southern 

 coasts, and is not, therefore, of special interest here. The 

 second species is a very similar animal, but has the tail 

 tipped with white ; it must therefore be, I think, Lesueur's 

 rat-kangaroo {Bettongia lesueuri). 



These small animals, which have the appearance of 

 large rats, are not numerous, and are not often seen unless 

 watched for. They do not come forth from their lurking- 

 places till the dusk of evening, and retire on the slightest 

 sign of approaching danger. They are gregarious to about 

 the same extent as the kangaroos and wallabies ; that is, 

 there may be from twenty to sixty or seventy in a colony, 

 but they scatter much when seeking food ; and though 

 many may be near, the observer seldom sees more than 

 three or four at a time. Though they resemble rats in 

 outward appearance, there is nothing of the rodent in their 

 general habits, or, indeed, in their internal structure. They 

 bear a single young one (occasionally two) at a birth, and 



