IV.—FAMILY PERAMELIDÆ.—POUCHED BADGERS.
This group of Marsupials embraces two genera, Perameles and Chœropus, the first having several species and the last but one. They have all long, slender heads; large, long ears, with fleshy lobes; longer hind than fore limbs; the tail short in some, long in others, and hairy; and the pouch is directed backwards. They have a considerable number of teeth, there being ten incisors in the upper jaw and six in the lower; there are two canines in each jaw, three premolars in each jaw on either side, and four true molars behind them, making forty-eight teeth in all. The teeth have fangs, the premolars are compressed and pointed, and the molars have tubercles on them. The stomach is simple.
GENUS PERAMELES (BANDICOOTS).—THE RABBIT-EARED PERAMELES.[110]
The so-called native Rabbit of the Swan River district of Western Australia is abundant in the grassy country in the interior; and it frequents, in pairs, places where the soil will permit of burrowing. It is about the size of a common Rabbit, and has a long and pointed muzzle, which is naked at the tip. It has long, oval ears, which are tubular at the base. The eye is small, and the tail is a little shorter than the body. The legs are longish, and the fur is well grown.
This sharp-looking animal lives upon insects, and its favourite food is a large grub, probably the larvæ of a species of Buprestis beetle which infest the roots of the acacia trees. In order to obtain this peculiar food, it has to compete with the natives, who like it also, and often enough it has to rush to its long and deep burrows for safety. Its flesh is sweet, and is much sought after by the aborigines. One which was kept at the Zoological Gardens 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 ball of fur. It was a very savage animal, and bit severely, holding on, moreover, if it could, with its teeth. It waddled on its hind legs alone, which were straddled, and the tail assisted in supporting the body. They have five toes to the fore-foot, of which the two outermost are rudimentary and nailless, the remaining three are well developed, and are furnished with strong solid nails, which cover the last phalanges which are cleft above in the longitudinal direction almost to the root. The hind feet have a rudimentary inner toe, the second and third are joined and are slender, and have two hollow nails, and the fourth is large and, like the fifth, which is well developed, has a solid nail sheathed on the end bone.
GUNN’S PERAMELES.—THE BANDICOOT.[111]
This is the animal which has given the native name to the genus, and Mr. Gunn, who discovered the species, informed Mr. Waterhouse that it is common in many parts of Van Diemen’s Land, going by the name of Bandicoot. It is a burrower, and lives principally upon roots, and it likes the bulbs which are introduced from the Cape and elsewhere into gardens. It is about sixteen inches long, and has a slender muzzle, moderate-sized ears, and the under parts of the body are white, the rest being grey and pencilled with black and yellow, except behind, where it is blacker. There are four broadish white bands on this part.
THE BANDED PERAMELES.[112]
BANDED PERAMELES.