BETTONGIA FASCIATA. 



Banded Jerboa Kang-aroo. 



Spec. Char. — B. vellere lotigo moUi, saturate fusco, pilis ad basin cinereis in medio albis ; exinde ferrugineo-Jlavis, ad apicem 

 saturate fuscis ; mllere corporis superioris pilis longis albis sericeis, crebre adsperso ; dor so inferior e fasciis nigris vix 

 conspicuis, transversim notato ; spatio circumoculari Jlavescenti-fusco ; tarsis, et artubus posticis externe flavido lavatis. 



Descr. — Fur long and soft ; general colour deep brown grey at the base, white towards the apex of the hairs, and rusty 

 yellow shaded into dark brown at the point ; fur of the upper surface interspersed with numerous long silky white 

 hairs ; on the lower half of the back are about twelve or thirteen, not very defined, transverse black bands, each 

 of Avhich is bordered above with white, and below with rusty yellow ; throat and under surface white ; chin, 

 muzzle, and a space round the eye yellowish brown ; tarsi and outer side of the legs tinged with yellow ; hair of 

 the hands and base of the toes whitish ; internal surface of the ears white ; tail covered with short, adpressed, 

 grizzled grey and white, or in parts black and white hairs ; about an inch and a half of the apical portion covered 

 with longer black hairs. 



Male. 



feet, inches. 



Length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail .... 2 4 



of tail lOf 



,, „ tarsus and toes, including the nail 4^ 



,, ,, arms and hand, including the nails 3 



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



,_, „ ear li- 



Kangurus fasciatus, Peron et Leseur, Voy. aux Terres Australes, torn. i. p. 114 ; and Atlas, pi. 27. — Desm. Ency. Meth. 



Mamm., p. 274. 

 Kanguroo elegant, Cuv. Coll. de Paris. 

 Halmatiirus elegans, Cuv. Regne Anim., torn. i. p. 187. 

 Hypsiprymnus Leseuri, Quoy et Gaim. ? 



Three specimens of this elegant little animal form part of the collection of the museum at Paris, which, as far as I 

 am aware, are the only examples that have yet been brought to Europe : after a careful examination of them upon 

 two different occasions, I believe that they form part of that division of the family to which Mr. Gray has assigned 

 the generic title of Bettongia, and that the species is most nearly allied to Bettongia rufescens and B. Graii ; at the same 

 time it exhibits in the character of its hair, but not in the form and structure of its teeth, some affinity to the members 

 of the genus Lagorchestes. 



The Banded Jerboa Kangaroo is a native of Dirk Hartogs, and other islands situated off the western coast of Au- 

 stralia : it was there observed in great abundance by Peron, whose notes are here given as comprising all that is at 

 present known respecting it : — 



" It inhabits the impenetrable low thickets, formed of a species of Mimosa, which are found in those islands ; from these 

 bushes it cuts away the lower branches and spines so as to form galleries communicating one with another, and where it takes 

 refuge in time of danger. The females bring forth but one young at a time. Although abundant on the islands, none were to 

 be found on the main land. These httle Kangaroos, like all feeble animals which have neither the power of attack nor of de- 

 fence, are extremely timid. The slightest noise caused them to take flight to the thick brushwood in which their galleries are 

 constructed, and where it is impossible to pursue them ; hence, although very common, they are difficult to procure. 



" The flesh of these animals is said to resemble that of the rabbit, but has a shght aromatic flavour, arising probably from 

 the nature of the plants on which they feed, nearly all of which are fragrant. 



" AU the females carried young in their pouch, and the devotedness with which they sought to save their offspring was truly 

 admirable. Although wounded they flew with the young in the pouch, and never left them until, overcome with fatigue and 

 loss of blood, they could no longer carry them ; they then stopped, and squatting themselves on the hind legs, helped the young 

 to get out of the pouch by means of the fore feet, and sought to place them in a situation favourable for retreat." 



