473 



THE BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG. 



The BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG, or JERBOA KANGAROO, as it is sometimes called, affords an 

 excellent example of the genus Bettongia, in which are collected a small group of Kan- 

 garoos that are easily distinguished by their peculiarly short and broad heads. In size it 

 equals a common hare, the head and body being about fourteen inches in length, and the 

 tail about eleven inches, without including the tuft which decorates its extremity. The 

 general color of the animal is a palish brown liberally pencilled with white, and the 

 under parts are of a pale grayish-white. The " brush" is black, and the under side of the 

 tail is brownish-white. 



It is a nocturnal animal, and lies curled up during the entire day, issuing forth from its 

 nest as the shades of evening begin to draw on. The nest of the Brush-tailed Bettong 

 is a very ingenious specimen of architecture, and is so admirably constructed, that it can 

 hardly be detected by a European eye, even when it is pointed out to him. The native, 

 however, whose watchful eye notes even the bending of a leaf in the wrong place, or the 

 touch of a claw upon the tree trunk, seldom passes in the vicinity of one of these nests 

 without discovering it and killing its inmates, by dashing his tomahawk at random into 

 the mass of leaves and grass. 



BRUSH-TAILED BETTONG. Bettoagia Penicillata. 



As this animal resides chiefly on grassy hills and dry ridges, it is no easy matter to 

 make a nest that shall be sufficiently large to contain the female and her young, and yet 

 so inconspicuous as not to attract attention. The manner in which the nest is made is 

 briefly as follows : 



The animal searches for some suitable depression in the earth, enlarging it till it is 

 sufficiently capacious, and builds a curious edifice of leaves and grass over the cavity, so 

 that when she has completed her task, the roof of the nest is on a level with the growing 

 grass. For additional safety, the nest is usually placed under the shelter of a large grass 

 tuft or a convenient bush. 



The manner in which the animal conveys the materials of its nest to the spot where 

 they are required is most remarkable. After selecting a proper supply of dried grass, the 

 creature makes it up into a sheaf, and twisting her prehensile tail round the bundle, hops 

 away merrily with her burden. It is almost impossible to comprehend the extreme 

 quaintness of the aspect which is presented by a Jerboa Kangaroo engaged in this manner 

 without actual experience, or the aid of a very admirable and spirited drawing. When 

 the animal has completed its nest, and the young are lying snugly in its warm recesses, 

 the young family is effectually concealed from sight by the address of the mother, who 

 invariably drags a tuft of grass over the entrance whenever she leavesor enters her grassy 

 home. 



