340 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
. here illustrated, from the neighbourhood 
of Broome, in the farthest north or 
Kimberley district of Western Australia. 
This specimen, which was caught alive 
in a rat trap, exhibited astonishingly po- 
tent gnawing powers, almost succeeding 
one night in eating its way through the 
wooden box in which it was temporarily 
confined. The habits of this species are 
omnivorous, and chiefly akin to those of 
the ordinary rats, it being accustomed 
to prowl round the out-buildings at 
night, picking up any unconsidered tri- 
fles in the way of food that may be left 
unprotected. 
Many of the smaller members of 
this tribe are no larger than mice; and 
in one form, known as the JERBOA 
POUCHED MOUSE, inhabiting Queensland 
and New South Wales, the hind limbs 
are abnormally prolonged, and the ani- 
mal progresses by leaps and bounds, after 
the fashion of the true jerboas, or its 
nearer relatives, the ordinary kangaroos 
and rat-kangaroos. 
THE BANDED ANT-EATER 
Photo by W. Saville-Kent, FZS. “ 2 
BRUSH-TAILED POUCHED MOUSE, OR One of the most interesting from 
PHASCOGALE the zoologist’s standpoint, and the last on 
A slender and graceful animal, the largest of the thirteen known species, and our list of the Australian marsupials, is 
bout the si di ; wae near : 
ETD ELE SUREIEE TIS the little creature, limited in its habitat 
to Western Australia, locally known as the SQUIRREL. The BANDED ANT-EATER, with reference 
to its striped ornamentation and ant-eating habits, is the name by which it is usually chronicled 
in natural history works. In size and shape, except for its more pointed snout, its squirrel- 
like aspect is certainly somewhat striking. Like the true ant-eaters of the Edentate Mammalian 
Order, it, however, possesses a long protrusile tongue, with which it is accustomed in a similar 
manner to lick up the ants which constitute its main food-supply. 
The most interesting biological peculiarity of this animal is the abnormal development 
of its teeth. These number as many as from fifty-two to fifty-six, and exceed the dental 
formula of any other known existing marsupial. The usual colour of this interesting little 
animal is a warm chestnut-brown, banded transversely over the back with white, these stripes 
being widest and most conspicuous over the hindquarters, This somewhat paradoxical marsupial 
possesses no pouch, the young, when first born and attached to the nipples in the manner 
characteristic of ordinary marsupials, being covered over and concealed among the longer hairs 
that clothe the abdominal region. In the dasyures, or native cats, previously described, the 
pouch exists only in a rudimentary condition, its function being fulfilled by merely a few 
skin-folds ; while in the “ tiger’ and native devil the pouch, contrary to that of the kangaroos, 
opens backwards. 
In disposition the banded ant-eater presents a marked contrast to that of many of the 
preceding types. Caught in its native habitat, it does not attempt to bite, and soon becomes 
reconciled to captivity. The peculiar nature of its diet, however, militates against its being 
easily transported over-sea from the Antipodes. 
