52 
The Queensland Naturalist 
Feb., 1922* 
A QUEENSLAND RABBIT-BANDICOOT. 
By Heber A. Longman, Director, Queensland Mumeum. 
Through the kindness of Mr. J. Horsington, of Bulgroo 
Station, via Adavale, a specimen of the Rabbit-Bandicoot r 
or Bilbi, was forwarded alive to the Queensland Museum 
in October last. 
This curious little marsupial has been popularly 
regarded as a freak — a hybrid between a Rabbit and a 
Bandicoot, which would be, of course, an utter impossibility. 
But its long and elegant ears are the only character which 
could be considered rabbit-like. Anatomically, it is a 
specialised Bandicoot, and it belongs to the Peramelkhe. 
Its snout is elongated, like that of the long-nosed Bandicoot, 
and it is also a great burrower. Indeed, the services of 
two men were necessary to dig out this Bilbi, which was 
kept as a pet at Bulgroo Station for some months before 
Miss Horsington brought it to Brisbane. 
This beautiful little marsupial is about the size of our 
common Bandicoot. Its silky hair is blue-grey above, 
whilst the under surface of the body is white. The long 
ears, which are almost naked, can be erected in varying 
positions, but often hang drooping. The tail is long, dark 
basally, and has a prominent white crest above on its 
terminal portion. This crested tail was prized by the 
aborigines for decorative purposes, and, judging from the 
numbers they obtained, the Bilbi must have been common 
in some districts. 
Like the Kangaroo, the Bilbi is able to jump forward 
on its hind legs, but when moving slowly the fore limbs are 
also used. Two of the toes on the hind feet are small and 
closely associated, forming the typical marsupial syndacty- 
lism. Being a nocturnal animal, it spends most of the day- 
time curled up in a box. Should grasshoppers or beetles 
be placed in its case, then the Bilbi becomes alert. In 
catching a grasshopper it seems to be guided almost 
entirely by its keen sense of smell. After crushing the 
insect with its jaws, which, unlike those of herbivorous 
marsupials, are armed with sharp canine teeth, it uses its 
fore paws to hold its prey. The long lower jaw is attenuated 
in front, and presents a curious appearance when a large 
grasshopper is being munched. The Bilbi has lived for 
over three months in the Museum, to the time of writing, 
feeding on milk daily, with occasional insects, and it also 
devoured a dead mouse. In its natural state it is said to 
feed mainly on beetle larvae found in the roots of an Acacia. 
Up to the present, four species of Rabbit-Bandicoots 
have been described. The original species, Tlialacomys 
