MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES 335 
female which the dogs had killed, and q 
being then about the size of a mouse. 
It speedily learned to lap milk, and 
throve on a diet of bread and raw 
potato. As it grew larger it was | 
allowed the run of the house, and | 
also of the garden, but habitually 
teturned to the sleeping-quarters 
selected by itself, and represented by 
the woolly depths of its mistress’s 
work-basket. In this haven of rest 
it slept all day, scolding and snapping 
at any intruding hand. Towards dusk 
it would waken up and bustle about 
in a most energetic manner, with the 
air, in fact, of having an immense ; re oD 
amount of business to. transact within = a satienens, BZ. 
the very shortest limits of time. Its RABBIT_BANDICOOT 
first dart was always towards a corner 
where a supper of bread-and-milk 
and potato was usually placed. This meal discussed, its evening’s occupation commenced 
of scampering, around the room and over every accessible article of furniture. Nor was it 
shy of climbing up and resting for a few seconds on the shoulders of its human friends, 
being always, however, in too great a hurry to prolong the visit. Finally, as with all pets, 
“ Coota,”.as he was familiarly named, came to an untimely end— not a cat, however, on 
this occasion,. but, if rumour whispers true, through over-indulgence in a too liberally furnished 
meal of custard pudding. . 
. |The flesh of this and other species of bandicoots is esteemed for food both by the natives 
and the white settlers in Australia. It is noteworthy of the banded variety, more especially, 
that the ‘skin adheres so tightly to the flesh that its removal is a matter of some considerable 
difficulty. When full grown, this species measures as much as 18 inches in total length, 
and is little inferior to a rabbit with regard to the amount of good meat it provides for 
the larder. 
The largest of the bandicoots ; about the size of a rabbit 
THE POUCHED MOLE 
A still more essentially insectivorous marsupial is represented by the little mammal 
discovered only a few years since in the wild sandy wastes of Central Australia. In form 
and habits it so nearly resembles the familiar European mole that the title of the POUCHED 
MOLE has been very suitably given to it. At the same time, with regard to its remarkable 
organisation, it constitutes the sole representative of its peculiar family group. The first 
suspicions of the existence of this singular little animal were raised by the observation of 
peculiar sinuous three-lined tracks at irregular intervals on the surface of the sandy regions it 
inhabits. 
After a long quest, with the aid of the aborigines, the first specimen was discovered 
reposing under a tuft of coarse porcupine-grass. A further investigation elicited the fact that 
its burrowing proclivities were much less pronounced than those of the ordinary moles, the 
little creature progressing alternately over the surface of the sand, and then ploughing its 
way, for several feet or yards, two or three inches only beneath the surface. All efforts 
to preserve examples of this marsupial alive for longer periods than three or four days 
proved abortive; for though the remains of ants and other insects were found within its 
viscera, it refused to feed upon the living supplies that were provided for it. In fact, the 
animal itself apparently ran the greater risk of being eaten. 
