HAPALOTIS MITCHELLII. 
Mitchell’s Hapalotis. 
Dipus Mitchelli, Ogilby in Linn. Trans., vol. xviii. p. 129. — Mitch. Trav., vol. ii. p. 144. pi. 29. — Gould in Proc. 
of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 151. 
Hapalotis MitcJiellii, Gray, App. to Grey’s Trav., vol. ii. p. 404. 
Gouldii, Gray, App. to Grey’s Trav., vol. ii. pp. 404 and 413. 
Djyr-clow-in, Aborigines around Perth, and 
Mat-tee-getch, Aborigines in the neighbourhood of Moore’s River, Western Australia. 
The animal here represented was originally described by Mr. Ogilby under the name of Dipus Mitchellii, 
from a drawing by Major Sir Thomas L. Mitchell of a specimen obtained by him on the banks of 
the river Murray in South Australia, and now deposited in the Museum at Sydney ; since that period 
specimens have been sent to the Zoological Society of London by the late Mr. J. B. Harvey from South 
Australia, and to myself by Mr. Gilbert from Western Australia, all of which appear to be identical with 
the animal discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell ; at least the specimens from Southern and Western 
Australia have been found on comparison to be precisely similar, and Mr. Gilbert informs me that on 
examining the Major’s specimen in the Sydney Museum, he could perceive no specific difference between 
it and those transmitted by himself from Vfestern Australia. That they are identical there can be little 
doubt, when we take into consideration that Sir Thomas Mitchell’s specimen was procured at no o- r eat 
distance from the locality in which Mr. Harvey obtained bis. 
The range of this species is very extensive, and it is probable that the greater portion of the interior 
of the country will hereafter be found to be inhabited by it. 
The only information received respecting the habits of this animal is, that in Western Australia it bur- 
rows in the ground ; taking up its abode on the sides of grassy hills tolerably well-clothed with small trees 
growing in a light soil. It occasionally makes its way into the stores of the settlers, and commits depre- 
dations on the provisions, particularly sugar and raisins, of which it is exceedingly fond. 
The sexes in size and colour offer no material difference. 
All the upper surface and the outside of the limbs very pale sandy, interspersed over the head and back 
with fine black hairs, which becoming numerous and longer on the lower part of the back and rump, give 
that part a black or brown hue ; ears naked and of a dark brown ; sides of the face, all the under surface, 
inner side of the limbs and feet greyish white ; down the centre of the throat and chest a broad patch of 
pure silky white ; upper surface of the tail dark brown, under surface white, the hairs becoming much 
lengthened on the upper surface at the tip ; whiskers very long, fine and black ; the fur is close, very soft, 
and of a slaty grey at the base, both on the upper and under surface. 
The accompanying Plate represents the animal in three positions, and of the natural size. 
