BETTONGIA CUNICULUS. 



Tasmanian Jerboa Kang-aroo. 



Spec. Char. — Bett. vellere modice longo, at non permolli, fuscescenti-cinereo, alho irrorato ; pedibus fuscescenti-albis ; cauda 



ad basin paUide fiisca , deinde saturate fusca ; ad apicem alba ; auribus lemter flaw marginatis. 

 Descr. — Fur rather long and not very soft ; general colour brownish grey, pencilled with white ; feet brownish white ; 

 tail well clothed with pale brown hairs gradually passing into dark brown near the extremity, and tipped with 

 pure white ; margin of the ears slightly tinged with yellowish ; under surface of the body dirty white ; fur both 

 of the upper and under surface grey at the base. 



Male, 

 feet, inches. 



Length from the nose to the extremity of the tail 2 6 



of tail 1 1 



,, tarsus and toes, including the nail 4|- 



,, arm and hand, including the nails 3|- 



„ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear ... 3^- 



„ ears H 



Hyps'iprymnus Cunkulus, Ogilby in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part VI. p. 63. 

 Forest Rat, colonists of Van Diemen's Land. 



This species is a native of Van Diemen's Land, and so far as I am aware is confined to that island ; on this point, 

 however, from our imperfect knowledge of the zoology of Australia and the neighbouring islands, I cannot speak with 

 certainty. 



For the two fine specimens from which my figures were taken I am indebted to the kindness of my esteemed friend 

 Ronald C. Gunn, Esq., now resident in Van Diemen's Land, and who, as is well known, has largely contributed to our 

 knowledge of the natural productions of that island, zoological as well as botanical. 



This species differs from Bettong'ia pemcillata in many particulars, among the most striking of vvhich are its much larger 

 size, the more lengthened form of its head, and the conspicuous white tuft at the extremity of the tail ; from all the 

 other species of the genus yet discovered it offers still greater differences. Having compared my specimens with that 

 in the collection of the Zoological Society, from which Mr. Ogilby took his description, and with another in the British 

 Museum, I am satisfied of their identity. In both the British Museum and Zoological Society's specimen the extremity 

 of the tail and consequently the white tip is wanting ; hence the omission of this important character in Mr. Ogilby's 

 description. 



Although very generally distributed over the island of Van Diemen's Land, the Tasmanian Jerboa Kangaroo is very 

 local, giving preference to the open, sandy or stony forest land rather than to the thick and humid brushes. 



