THE BANDED BANDICOOT. 
383 
The creature seems to be remarkably sensitive to cold, considering the severe weather 
which often reigns in its native country. It is fond of hay, which it chops into short pieces 
with its knife-edged teeth. The natives say that if a Wombat is making a journey, and 
happens to come across a river, it is not in the least discomfited, but walks deliberately into 
the river, across the bed of the stream, and, emerging on the opposite bank, continues its 
course as calmly as if no impediment had been placed in its way. 
The teeth of the Wombat present a curious resemblance to those of the rodent animals, 
and are endowed with the same powers of reproduction as those of the beaver and other ani- 
mals of the same order. The feet of the Wombat are broad, and the fore-feet are provided 
with very strong claws, that are formed for 
digging in the earth. There are five toes to 
each foot, but the thumb of the hinder feet is 
extremely small, and devoid of a claw. This 
animal is remarkable for possessing fifteen 
pairs of ribs — in one case sixteen pairs of 
ribs were found — only six pairs of which 
reach the breast-bone. Remains of a fossil 
species of Wombat have been discovered in 
ISTew Holland, together with the relics of an 
allied and gigantic species, which, when 
living, must nearly have equalled the hip- 
popotamus in dimensions. 
The Bandicoot, two examples of which 
will be described in these pages, form a 
little group of animals that are easily 
recognizable by means of their rat-like 
aspect, and a certain peculiar, but inde- 
scribable mode of . carrying themselves. 
The gait of the Bandicoot is very singular, 
being a kind of mixture between jumping 
and running, which is the result of the for- 
mation of the legs and feet. During progres- 
sion, the back of the creature is considerably 
arched. The snout is much lengthened and 
rather sharply pointed, and the second and 
third toes of the hinder feet are conjoined as 
far as the claws. The pouch open backwards. 
The Banded Bandicoot, or Stbiped-backed Bandicoot, derives its name from the pecu- 
liar marking of its fur. 
The general color of its coat is a blackish-yellow, as if produced by alternate hairs, the 
black tint predominating on the back and the yellow on the sides. Over the hinder quarters 
are drawn some boldly marked black lines, which, when viewed from behind, form a singular 
and rather pleasing pattern, the dark stripes being made more conspicuous by bands of whitish- 
yellow. These marks continue as far as the root of the tail, and a single, narrow dark line 
runs along the whole upper side of the tail, which is of the same color as the body. The fur 
is rather light upon the head, and the under parts of the body, together with the feet, are 
white, slightly tinged with gray. 
This animal is very widely spread over the eastern and south-eastern parts of Australia, 
but is mostly found in the interior. It specially loves the stony ridges that are so common 
in its native land, and although not very often seen by casual travellers, is of very frequent 
occurrence. Its pace is very swift, and its gait is said to bear some resemblance to that of the 
pig. Its food is of both kinds, and consists of insects and their larvae, and of various roots and 
seeds. Its flesh is held in some repute by natives and colonists. 
LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT .— Perameles nasuta. 
