THE LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT. 



483 



quarters are drawn some boldly marked black lines, which, when viewed from behind, 

 form a singular and rather pleasing pattern, the dark stripes being made more conspic- 

 uous by bands of whitish-yellow. These marks continue as far as the root of the tail, 

 and a single, narrow dark line runs along the whole upper side of the tail, which is of 

 the same color as the body. The fur is rather light upon the head and the under parts 

 of the body, together with the feet, are white, slightly tinged with gray. 



This animal is very widely spread over the eastern and south-eastern parts of Australia, 

 but is mostly found in the interior. It specially loves the stony ridges that are so com- 

 mon in its native land, and although not very often seen by casual travellers, is of very 

 frequent occurrence. Its pace is very swift, and its gait is said to bear some resemblance 

 to that of the pig. Its food is of both kinds, and consists of insects and their larva?, and 

 of various roots and seeds. Its flesh is held in some repute by natives and colonists. 



It is but a small animal, measuring only eighteen inches in total length. When the 

 animal is killed, it is not easily flayed, as the skin adheres so tightly to the flesh that 

 its removal is a matter of some difficulty, when there is need for preserving the skin in 

 its integrity. 



LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT.-Perame/es aasuta. 



The LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT is not unlike the preceding animal in form, but differs 

 from it in the coloring of its fur, and the greater length of its snout. 



The face, head, and body, are of a brown tint, pencilled with black on the upper 

 portions, and the sides are of a pale brown, sometimes warmed with a rich purplish hue. 

 The edge of the upper lip is white, as are also the under portions of the body, and the 

 fore-legs and feet. This fur is very harsh to the touch. The total length of this ani- 

 mal is about twenty-one inches, the tail being five inches in length. 



The food of the Long-nosed Bandicoot is said to be of a purely vegetable nature, 

 and the animal is reported to occasion some havoc among the gardens and granaries 

 of the colonists. Its long and powerful claws aid it in obtaining roots, and it is not at 

 all unlikely that it may, at the same time that it unearths and eats a root, seize and 

 devour the terrestrial larvae which are found in almost every square inch of the ground. 

 The lengthened nose and sharp teeth which present so great a resemblance to the same 

 organs in insectivorous shrews, afford good reasons for conjecturing that they may be 

 employed in much the same manner. 



The dentition of the Bandicoot is rather interesting, and will be found detailed at 

 some length in the table of generic distinctions at the end of the volume. 



