360 MAKSUPIALIA. 



EABBIT-EAEED BANDICOOT. 



Perameles lagotis. 



This very curious and most peculiar animal has also 

 been called the Chaeropus, or Kabbit-eared Perameles. 



It is a rather small animal, of about 12 inches in 

 length. 



The ears are very long, soft, and bare like a Eabbit's, 

 but longer for its size. The fur is silky, long, and fine, 

 but not thick in texture. The great contrast of colour 

 is remarkable ; it is of a beautiful pink on the upper 

 part, and of a pale slaty-ash hue on the hinder parts, 

 and the belly is white. The tail is brown at the base, 

 then about half of it is black, and the other half, near 

 the tip, white. The forefeet are furnished with three 

 long claws, and the hind-feet with only one, which is 

 extremely long. The pelt is very thin. 



About 20 to 50 skins are imported annually among 

 the Australian sundries. If this animal were more 

 numerous, its fur would be better appreciated in com- 

 merce. 



MYEMECOBIUS. 

 Myrmecobius fasciatus. 



The Myrmecobius is a small marsupial of 4 to 6 inches 

 in length, and is very quaint in appearance. 



The shoulders are red ; the hinder part is dark brown, 

 striped with darker bands ; and the tail is rather bushy. 



Skins of this animal are found among the sundries, 



