THE KANGAROO-RAT. 



199 



the animal has come down from its tree and hops oft to its retreat. A specimen in the Zoological 

 Gardens of London had grizzled-grey fur, whiter underneath the jaws and on the neck and limbs, and 

 the ears were wide apart, and the powerful fore limbs ended in five claws. The tail tapered but 

 very little. This was pro- 

 bably a second species called 

 the Brown Tree Kangaroo 

 (Dendrolagus inustus). 



These Tree Kangaroos 

 have a small superior canine 

 tooth on each side, and 

 the hinder incisor is not 

 grooved. Hence they form 

 a sub-genus, which is called 

 Dendrolagus (SfvSpov, a tree, 

 AoyJs, a hare), Tree Hare. 



THE KANGAROO-RATS.* 

 These are also called 



Potoroos, and are of small 



size, being about that of a 



Hare or Rabbit. They 



have a compact body, the 



neck being short, and the 



ears are rather rounded, so 



that their shape is unlike 



that of the Great Kangaroo, 



but it resembles that of the 



smaller kinds somewhat. 



They have a rat-like shape, 



both hind feet like the 



Kangaroos, a long tail, and 



peculiar teeth. The head 



is very like that of a Rodent, and the incisor teeth in the upper jaw have the front ones the longest. The 



canine teeth exist in the upper jaw, and the premolar is large, and has numerous distinct vertical 



grooves on the outer and inner sides ; and the front molars are the largest, the smallest being in the 



rear. The toes of the fore foot are unevenly developed ; the three central ones are large, and those 



at the side are small. The nails are solid, broadest above, and much compressed. The foot is 



long, and the fourth toe and nail are greatly developed. 

 The fifth toe is next in size, and the small second and third 

 are coupled together by skin, and form a projection, with 

 two small nails, which are useful in combing and scratching 

 the fur. The first toe is absent. The Rufous Kangaroo- 

 Rat inhabits New South Wales, and is very common, t Its 

 nest is made up of grasses, and is frequently placed under 

 the shelter of a fallen tree, or at the foot of some low shrub. 

 During the day the little animal lies curled up in its nest, 

 but it occasionally reposes in a " seat " like the Hare Kan- 

 garoo ; but it never sits in the open plains. On being 

 pursued it jumps like a Jerboa, with great swiftness for a 



short distance, and seeks shelter in hollow logs and holes. Its food consists of roots and grasses. 



Another is a native of Van Diemen's Land, and keeps to the open, sandy, or stony forest land, 



rather than to the thick and humid bushes. It is called Hypsiprymnus cuniculus. 

 * Sub-genus Hypsiprymnus. f Hypsipnjmmis rufescens. 



KANGAROO-RAT. 



TEETH OF THE KANGAKOO-RAT. 



