THE BANDED BANDICOOT. 



383 



The creature seems to be remarkably sensitive to cold, considering the severe weather 

 which often reigns in its native country. It is fond of hay, which it chops into short pieces 

 with its knife-edged teeth. The natives say that if a Wombat is making a journey, and 

 happens to come across a river, it is not in the least discomfited, but walks deliberately into 

 the river, across the bed of the stream, and, emerging on the opposite bank, continues its 

 course as calmly as if no impediment had been placed in its way. 



The teeth of the Wombat present a curious resemblance to those of the rodent animals, 

 and are endowed with the same powers of reproduction as those of the beaver and other ani- 

 mals of the same order. The feet of the Wombat are broad, and the fore-feet are provided 

 with very strong claws, that are formed for 

 digging in the earth. There are five toes to 

 each foot, but the thumb of the hinder feet is 

 extremely small, and devoid of a claw. This 

 animal is remarkable for possessing fifteen 

 pairs of ribs — in one case sixteen pairs of 

 ribs were found — only six pairs of which 

 reach the breast-bone. Remains of a fossil 

 species of Wombat have been discovered in 

 New Holland, together with the relics of an 

 allied and gigantic species, which, when 

 living, must nearly have equalled the hip- 

 popotamus in dimensions. 



The Bandicoot, two examples of which 

 will be described in these pages, form a 

 little group of animals that are easily 

 recognizable by means of their rat-like 

 aspect, and a certain peculiar, but inde- 

 scribable mode of carrying themselves. 

 The gait of the Bandicoot is very singular, 

 being a kind of mixture between jumping 

 and running, which is the result of the for- 

 mation of the legs and feet. During progres- 

 sion, the back of the creature is considerably 

 arched. The snout is much lengthened and 

 rather sharply pointed, and the second and 

 third toes of the hinder feet are conjoined as 

 far as the claws. The pouch open backwards. 



The Banded Bandicoot, or Striped-backed Bandicoot, derives its name from the pecu- 

 liar marking of its fur. 



The general color of its coat is a blackish-yellow, as if produced by alternate hairs, the 

 black tint predominating on the back and the yellow on the sides. Over the hinder 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 conspicuous 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 common 

 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 larvge, and of various roots and 

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



LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT.— Perameks naeuta. 



