268 



POUCHED MAMMALS. 



which all trace of the inner toe is wanting. The molar teeth are, moreover, 

 curved; and in the type species have longer roots and shorter crowns than 

 in the true bandicoots. The rabbit-bandicoot is about the size of an ordinary 

 rabbit, and is clothed with fine silky hair of considerable length. The general 

 colour of the upper-parts is pale grey, passing into rufous on the flanks, and 

 becoming white beneath ; the feet, as well as the end of the tail, being white. 



Pig-Footed The pig-footed bandicoot (Chosropus castanotis) is a delicately - 



Bandicoot. built and rather small animal, measuring from 10 to 11 inches in 

 length, exclusive of the short tail. It has long ears ; and a rather short but sharp 

 muzzle, naked at the extreme tip ; but its most characteristic features are to be found 

 in its feet. In the fore-limbs, which are much ghorter than the hinder-pair, the 

 functional toes are reduced to the second and third, these being furnished with 

 short, symmetrical, and slightly curved claws; while the first and fifth toes are absent, 

 and the fourth represented merely by a small rudiment. In the long and slender 

 hind-limbs the whole strength is concentrated in the long and stout fourth toe, 

 the united second and third toes being very small, and the fourth altogether 

 rudimentary. The fur is coarse and straight ; its general colour on the head 

 and body being a uniform grizzled grey, with a tinge of fawn ; while the chin, 

 chest, and under-parts are white, and the feet pale grey or white, with a yellowish 

 tinge. This animal inhabits the greater part of Australia, with the exception of 

 the extreme north, north-east, and east ; its favourite haunts being open grassy 

 plains, where it constructs nests like those of the ordinary bandicoots. 



THE DASYURE TRIBE. 

 Family DASYURID^E. 



Dasyures are distinguished from the members of the preceding family by 

 having the second and third toes of the hind-foot perfectly separate from one 

 another, and as well developed as 

 the fourth and fifth; the first toe, 

 if present at all, being small and 

 without a claw. The dentition 

 differs from that of most of the 

 bandicoots in that there are four 

 in place of five incisor teeth on 

 each side of the upper jaw ; both 

 groups having three pairs of these 

 teeth in the lower jaw. 



In all the members of the 

 family the fore and hind -limbs 

 are of approximately equal length ; 

 and the fore-feet have five well- 



i I i , -i -i 1 -j.1 i FRONT VIEW OF SKULL OF THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 



developed toes, all armed with claws. (From Sir w H Flower? QuarL Journ , GeoL ^ vol . xxiv>) 



The tail, which may be either 



medium or long, is hairy, and without the power of prehension ; and the pouch, 



