PETROGALE LATERALIS, Oouid. 



Striped-sided Rock Wallaby. 



Spec. Char. — P. vellere et hremore et valde molliore quam i?i P. penicillata ; caudcB dimidio basali fuscescenti-cinereo, apkali 

 nigro ; linea alba conspkua ah apke usque ad auris basin; nota splendide fusca inter scapulas oriente, per brachia 

 postice ducta, per latera ; et intus per femora ; hac nota a colore coiporis superioris disjuncta linea alba conspicua ; 

 mento, gutture, pectore et abdomine arenaceo-rubris ; colli lateribus inferioribus cinereis. 



Descr. —Fur shorter and much softer than that of P. penicillata ; general colour reddish hrown, passing- into silvery grey 

 on the neck and shoulders ; basal half of the tail brownish grey, the remainder black, with a brush at the end ; 

 face greyish brown ; a distinct white mark from the tip to the base of the ear ; a black mark between the ears 

 extending in a distinct narrow line half way down the back ; ears dark brown, becoming of a light sandy colour 

 at the base ; a deep rich brown mark extends from behind the shoulders, down the back of the arm, along the 

 flanks and down the inside of the thigh ; this mark is separated from the general colour of the back by a very 

 distinct stripe of white ; chin, throat, chest and abdomen sandy red ; under sides of the neck grey ; arms light 

 sandy red, passing into black on the hands ; tarsi reddish brown, passing into blackish brown on the toes. 



Male. 



feet, inches. 



Length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail .... .3 5 



„ of the tail 1 5 



,, „ tarsus and toes, including the nail ......... 5-f 



„ „ arms and hands, including the nails 4|- 



,, „ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear ... 4 



„ „ ear li 



Petrogale lateralis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, for January 11, 1842. 



This conspicuously marked species is very abundant in all the rocky districts of Swan River, and I have little doubt 

 that the whole of the line of coast of Western Australia will hereafter be found to be inhabited by it, wherever the 

 character of the country is suitable. Independently of its markings and the character of its fur, it is a much more 

 diminutive animal than the P. penicillata ; the crania of these two animals also exhibit sufficient differences to satisfy 

 the most sceptical mind of their being specifically distinct ; in disposition and economy, however, but little difference is 

 found to exist between them. 



Mr. Gilbert states that " it is only to be met with in the rocky parts of the interior intersected with caverns. It is a 

 remarkably shy and Avary animal, seldom venturing out during the day, but feeds at night in Uttle open patches of grass, never, 

 from all that I have been able to observe, going more than two or three hundred yards from its rocky retreats. When alarmed 

 it leaps most extraordinary distances from rock to rock and point to point with the utmost rapidity." 



