RABBIT-EARED PERAMELES. 3(51 
usually seen in pairs. It commonly selects those spots where, 
the soil being loose, it is enabled to excavate its burrows with 
facility. Like the Rabbit it flies to its subterranean retreat 
for safety, when pursued, and as the bin-rows are both deep 
and long, frequently eludes the pursuer. Its flesh is sweet, 
and resembles that of the Rabbit. The food of the Rabbit- 
eared Perameles consists of insects, and the animal is said to 
be particularly fond of a certain huge grub (probably the larva 
of a large species of Buprestes, found abundantly in the dis¬ 
trict), which is found at the roots of the Acacise, and which 
is in equal request with the natives, who also eat it. 
The specimen* already alluded to as having lived in the 
menagerie of the Zoological Society, was very active in the 
evening, but usually slept during the day-time, when, sitting 
upon its haunches, with its head thrust between its hind legs, 
it appeared like a large ball of fur. It was an exceedingly 
savage animal, bit very severely, and would not readily unfix 
its hold of any thing it happened to seize with its teeth. 
When walking, the hind legs only were used, and these were 
very widely separated. The tail assisted slightly in supporting 
the body, which was but little raised in front. 
The Perameles lagotis is about equal in size to the Com¬ 
mon Rabbit, and has a remarkably long and pointed muzzle, 
which is not only naked at the tip, but a naked area runs 
back from that part, on the upper surface of the muzzle, and 
terminates in a point, distant nearly an inch from the end of 
the snout. The ears are nearly of an elongate oval shape, 
but are somewhat contracted near the apex, and form a cylin¬ 
drical tube at the base : they are clothed only with extremely 
minute hairs, and these are for the most part very sparingly 
distributed, and of a pale colour ; near, and at the anterior 
margin, they are more numerous; those next the margin are 
whitish, but at a short distance from the margin they are 
