5 
The Hare-kangaroos, so called from their resemblance to that well-known rodent, are the fleetest of the whole 
tribe ; and though they do not exceed a common hare in bulk, they can make clear jumps of eight and ten feet high. 
Their arms are exceedingly short, and when progressing cannot be noticed, because they are pressed close to the body, 
and covered by the long fur; the hind legs are very long and slender, and the tail rather short and stiff, and not 
incrassated at the base ; the canines are well developed. 
BETTONGS, OR JERBOA KANGAROOS— (GENUS BETTONGIA.) 
B. cuniculus. Tasmania. 
„ greyi. New South Wales, South and West Australia. 
,, campestris. South Australia. 
These three species of Bettongs resemble each other very much, and are probably nothing but varieties. The 
western and southern animal, that is B. greyi and B. campestris, form extensive burrows, which the Tasmanian species 
does not: the tail is more or less prehensile, and the weight ranges from 5 to 6 lbs. 
B. penicillata. Interior of New South Wales. 
„ ogilbyi. West Australia. 
These two animals also resemble each other; they are very small, probably not more than 3 or 4 lbs. in 
weight; the tail is prehensile, and they climb well. We have seen one get over a close palisade-fence 8 feet high. 
This group connects the Kangaroo-tribe with the Phalangers. 
RAT-KANGAROOS— (GENUS HYPSIPRYMNUS.) 
H. murinus. New South Wales. 
„ apicalis. Tasmania. 
„ gilberti. West Australia. 
„ platyops. West Australia. 
The true Rat-kangaroos approach the Bandicoot tribe, and some naturalists have classed them as Bandicoots when 
the skull could not be examined ; their limbs are of more equal length ; they progress rather slowly, and the tail is 
short and stiff. The head of tire Rat-kangaroo is elongate, that of H. platyops excepted ; and the canine teeth are 
strongly developed. 
BANDICOOT TRIBE— (PERAMELIDHU) 
( Without illustration.) 
Having closed the Kangaroo family with the Kangaroo Rats proper of the genus Hypsiprymnus, we cannot but 
notice in the Bandicoots a general resemblance to the Rat-kangaroos. The Bandicoot family differs, however, much 
from all the preceding ones in the larger number of teeth. The usual formula, from which the Wombat only deviated, 
of six cutting teeth or incisors above and two below, has disappeared in the present section, and we find the incisors 
increased to ten above and six below. The fore-feet have the outer toes rudimentary, with only three nails, and the 
hind feet (though they retain the Kangaroo characteristic, and still possess the two inner toes joined by an integument) 
begin to produce a yet very rudimentary fifth toe or thumb. The pouch of the female, owing to its peculiar mode 
of progression, reassumes the reverse position to that of the Kangaroo and Phalanger tribe, and again resembles the 
pouch of the Wombat with its opening upwards. The number of mammae is changed, however; we now find eight 
instead of four, though the young never exceed four. The tail of the Bandicoots proper is short, and the fur harsh 
to the touch ; their food comprises bulbous roots, grass, and insects ; they are excellent as destroyers of vermin, and 
we have noticed fifty and more mice killed by one of them in a very short time. 
The family comprises three- genera : — 
Genus Peragalea. 
Head very elongate, canine teeth, powerfully developed grinders conical and almost rootless, with nothing but a 
few tubercles at the lower part of these teeth ; tail large, compressed, with a crest of hair on the upper edge, ending 
in a considerable tuft. 
Rabbit-eared Peragalea or Rabbit-rat ( Peragalea lagotis). 
This animal, which is about the size of a rabbit, has also very long ears, and beautiful silky ashy-grey fur ; 
the skull is much contracted between the orbits, and furnished with curved canine teeth of great strength. The animal 
