49 2 



THE MYRMECOBIUS. 



It is a beautiful little animal, the fur being of agreeable tints and diversified by 

 several bold stripes across the back. The general color of the fur is a bright fawn on 

 the shoulders, which deepens into blackish-brown from the shoulders to the tail, the 

 fur of the hinder portions being nearly black. Across the back are drawn six or seven 

 white bands, broad on the back and tapering off towards their extremities. The under 

 parts of the body are of a yellowish white. The tail is thickly covered with long, bushy 



hair, and has a grizzled aspect, owing to 

 the manner in which the back and white 

 hairs of which it is composed are mingled 

 together. Some hairs are annulated with 

 white, red-rust, and black, so that the tints 

 are rather variable, and never precisely 

 the same in two individuals. 



The length of the body is about ten 

 inches, and the tail measures about seven 

 inches, so that the dimensions of the 

 animal are similar to those of the common 

 water vole of Europe. 



It is an active animal, and when running, 

 its movements are very similar to those of 

 the common squirel. When hurried, it 

 proceeds by a series of small jumps, the 

 tail being elevated over its back after the 

 usual custom of squirrels, and at short in- 

 tervals it pauses, sits upright, and casts an 

 anxious look in all directions before it 

 again takes to flight. Although not a par- 

 ticularly swift animal, it is not an easy one 

 to capture, as it immediately makes for 

 some place of refuge, under a hollow tree 

 or a cleft in rocky ground, and when it has 

 fairly placed itself beyond the reach of its 

 pursuers, it bids defiance to their efforts 

 to drive it from its haven of safety. Not 

 even smoke the usual resort of a hunter 

 when his prey has gone to " earth " and 

 refuses to come out again has the least 

 effect on the Myrmecobius, which is either 

 possessed of sufficient smoke-resisting 

 powers to endure the stifling vapor with 

 impunity, or of sufficient courage to yield 

 its life in the recesses of its haven, rather 

 than deliver itself into the hands of its 



M YRMECOBI US. Myrmecobius tasciatus. 



enemies. 



The food of the Myrmecobius is supposed chiefly to consist of ants and similar diet, 

 as it is generally found inhabiting localities where ants most abound. For this kind of 

 food it is well fitted by its long tongue, which is nearly as thick as a common black- 

 lead pencil, and is capable of protrusion to some distance. In confinement of the Myr- 

 mecobius was accustomed to feed on bran among other substances. It is known that 

 in the wild state it will eat hay, as well as the " manna " that exudes from the 

 branches of the eucalypti. 



It is a very gentle animal in its disposition, as, when captured, it does not bite or 

 scratch, but only vents its displeasure in a series of little grunts when it finds that it is 

 unable to make its escape. The number of its young is rather various, but averages 

 from five to eight. The usual habitation of the Myrmecobius is placed in the decayed 

 trunk of a fallen tree, or, in default of such lodging, is made in a hollow in the ground, 

 It is a native of the borders of the Swan River, 



