BETTONGIA GRAII, gw 
Gray’s Jerboa Kang*aroo. 
Hypsiprymnm Graii, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part yiii. p. 178. — Waterh. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Mamm., vol. xi. 
(^Marsupialid) p. 190. 
Bettongia Grayii, Gray, List of Mamm, in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 93. 
Hypsiprymnus (^Bettongia) Graii, Waterh. Nat. Hist, of Mamm., vol. i. p. 203. 
Lesueuri, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de la Coquille ? 
Boor-dee, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia. 
I FIRST described this species in the “Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London” for 1840, from 
Swan River specimens, and remarked that it differed from its near ally, the Bettongia rufescens, in being 
of an ashy-brown colour above, and in having the hairs which clothe the back of the ears of the same colour 
as those of the head. During the years which have elapsed between 1840 and the time at which I am now 
writing (1855), many other specimens have come under my notice, the examination of which has confirmed 
my views as to its specific value ; although in some of its characters it approximates to B. rufescens, its 
most near ally is the species found in Van Diemen’s Land, and figured under the name of B. cimiculus ; it 
differs, however, from that animal in its more bluff head and in its shorter hind feet. Mr. Waterhouse 
remarks also, that although the many specimens which have come under his notice exhibited considerable 
variation in their colouring, and sometimes approximated very closely to other species, yet, with the 
assistance of the skull, he found no difficulty in distinguishing them. 
I have received examples of this animal from various parts of the south-western coasts of Australia, and 
it appears to he equally abundant in the plains around Adelaide as in those in the neighbourhood of Perth 
in Western Australia. My drawing was taken from living examples in the Menagerie of the Zoological 
Society, and I mention this because the positions may appear somewhat singular, hut they are correct 
representations of those the animals assumed at the time. Mr. Gilbert, who had many opportunities of 
observing the Bettongia Graii in Western Australia, states that : — 
“ It is truly gregarious, many dwelling together in extensively ramified burrows with several entrances, 
before which the excavated earth is formed into large mounds ; the openings are not, as usual, mere round 
holes, hut are dug out in the form of tunnels with perpendicular sides, as correct as if dug with a spade. 
These burrows are usually constructed in a bank sloping down to a brook or river, and are very numerous 
along both banks of the river Avon. I made several attempts to dig them out, but failed in every instance 
in consequence of the depth, six or eight feet, and sometimes even more, at which the burrows are 
constructed, and of their running one into the other in endless confusion. The Boof-dee is exclusively a 
nocturnal feeder, and, by quietly watching near the entrances to the burrows at sunset, may he shot in 
considerable numbers either when they emerge or while feeding in the immediate vicinity. It is one of the 
most destructive animals to the garden of the settler that occurs in Western Australia, almost every kind 
of vegetable being attacked by it, but especially peas and beans ; and I know of no species of its size which 
makes so loud a thumping noise while hopping along the ground on being alarmed ; besides making 
this noise with its feet, it also utters, when first started, a most singular succession of sounds, which 
I find it impossible to describe. Many of the specimens brought in by the natives were much discoloured, 
either by their dirty cloaks, or the clayey soil in which they had been captured. A remarkable circumstance 
connected with this animal is, that it is extremely difficult to meet with specimens which are not more or 
less denuded of the fur of the back, and I have often shot examples almost destitute of fur on any part of the 
body ; whether this is the result of disease or some accidental circumstance I am unable to say, but the 
skins of several I examined certainly presented a very similar appearance to that of dogs afflicted with 
mange. 
“ The Boor-dee is confined to the interior, and, besides burrowing as above described, sometimes dwells 
among the rocks like the Petrogaleer 
Fur of the upper and under surface grey at the base ; hairs of the under surface dirty-white externally ; 
those of the back dirty-white, inclining to ash-colour near the apex, and tipped with brownish-black ; on the 
sides of the head and body a very faint wash of yellow ; ears sparingly clothed, internally with small 
yellowish hairs, externally with fur like that of the head ; feet, greyish-brown in Western Australian 
specimens, and dark brown, inclining to chestnut, in those from South Australia. A similar difference 
occurs in the colouring of the tail ; there is also an absence of white hairs near the tip of South Australian 
specimens ; nose and other denuded parts flesh-colour. 
The figures are about the size of life. 
