BY GERARD KREFFT. 13 



pipe ; and as I was very anxious to sketch them from life I 

 emptied my pockets there and then; and promised a grand 

 entertainment for the night with plenty of damper and sugar and 

 tea." 



On arrival at the camp, the two animals were secured in a 

 bird cage ; and I was busy for several hours sketching my charges 

 in different positions. 



Gould's figures of Chceropus occidentalis are spiritless, being 

 taken from dry skins. T was in the habit of showing a copy of 

 Sir Thomas Mitchell's tail-less specimen to the natives, urging 

 them to procure animals of that description ; of course, they did 

 not recognize it as a " Landwang," and I was furnished in 

 consequence with a large number of the common Bandicoot 

 (Perameles obesula) minus the tail, which, to please me, had been 

 screwed clean out. 



About sun-down, when I was about to secure my animals for 

 the night, one of the nimblest made its escape, jumping clean 

 through the wires of the cage. 



At a quick pace it ran up one of the sandstone cliffs, followed 

 by myself, all the black-fellows, men, women, and children, and 

 their dogs. 



Here was a splendid opportunity for observing the motions of 

 the animal ; and I availed myself of it. The Chceropus progressed 

 like a broken down hack in a canter, apparently dragging the 

 hind quarters after it ; we kept in sight of the fugitive ; and, 

 after a splendid run up and down the sand hills, our pointer, who 

 had been let loose, brought it to bay in a salt bush. 



A large tin case was fitted up for the habitation of these 

 animals, and provided with coarse barley grass, upon which, as 

 the natives informed me, they feed. Insects, particularly Grass- 

 hoppers, were also put into the box, and, though they were rather 

 restless at first, and made vain attempts to jump out, they appeared 

 snug enough in the morning, having constructed a completely 

 covered nest with the grass and some dried leaves. 



During the day time, they always kept in their hiding places, 

 and, when disturbed, quickly returned to them ; but, as soon as 

 the sun was down, they became lively, jumping about and 

 scratching the bottom of the case, in their attempts to regain 



