56 
MAMMALIAN GALLERY. 
are three species^ all very similar externally, distributed over the 
whole of Australia and Tasmania, and living on roots and other 
vegetable food. They often exceed 100 lb. in weight, and are 
valued as food. 
[Case 07.] 4. The Bandicoots [Peramelida) are distinguished by the struc- 
ture of their fore feet — in which two or three of the middle toes 
are long and subequal, wdiile the others are quite rudimentary — by 
the Kangaroo-like structure of their hind feet, and by the large 
number of their low'er incisor teeth, of which there are six, the 
Kangaroos having tw^o only in this position. The most striking 
Fig. 22. 
Tasmauiau \\ o\( {Thijlaciims cynocephalus). 
members of the family are : — The Striped Bandicoot [Perameles 
fasciata) of Tasmania ; the Long-nosed Bandicoot (P. raffrayana) 
of New Guinea ; the long-eared rabbit-like Perngale lagotis of 
AVestern Australia ; and the extraordinary little Pig-footed Ban- 
dicoot (Choeropus casianotis), an animal somewhat resembling a 
rat, but with fore feet which remind us of those of a pig. 
5. Allied to the Peramelidce are the carnivorous Dasyurid( 2 , in 
which the feet are of the ordinary mammalian type, with five toes 
on the fore and four on the hind pair. To this family belong : — 
