GUNNS PERAMELES. 
37 ? 
nally dusky, but pale yellow behind, and yellow at the 
anterior angle; feet and tail wjrite; the latter with a small 
dusky patch at the base, above. 
Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land. 
Mr. Gunn, who was the discoverer of the present species, 
and after whom it has been named, informs us, that it is 
known in Van Diemens Land as the Bandicoot , and states 
that Bandicoots are numerous in all parts of that island: 
they burrow in the ground, and live principally upon roots. 
Certain species of bulbs, cultivated by Mr. Gunn, suffered 
much from the attacks of the Bandicoots, and a case is 
mentioned by that gentleman in which a whole collection of 
Cape bulbs was destroyed by them. 
In size and general proportions the Perameles Gunnii 
closely resembles the P. nasuta , but it is readily distin¬ 
guished from that animal by the white bands which adorn 
the hinder parts of its body, and the dark ground colour of 
the same parts: the colouring of other parts scarcely differs 
from that of P. nasuta. Its fur is moderate as to length, and 
harsh to the touch, though less so than in Per. obcsula or 
P. nasuta: on the upper parts of the body the hairs are grey at 
the root, but the visible portion of each hair is pencilled with 
black and oelireous yellow; on the sides of the body the general 
hue is somewhat paler than on the upper parts, the hairs 
having very little of the black pencilling; and here a delicate 
vinous tint is perceptible: on the hinder third of the back 
the ground colour may be described as black, there being but 
little admixture of yellow, but on this part are four broadisli 
white bands; the first of these bands (w T hich are of about 
equal width to the dark interspaces) crosses the back rather 
in front of the line of the thigh; the other three radiate, so 
that the second is most nearly transverse, and the liindermost 
is longitudinal; a mesial dark line divides, or separates, all 
