df Gould and H-C-Richter, del et ith.

HYPSIPRYMNUS APICALIS, Goud

TIN ope
Pasmanian Rat-Kangaroo.

5 7 ie = oo 2 . > i , i . al 1 (
native of Van Diemen’s Land, to be distinct from the species known as the Potoroo or Kangaroo-Rat of
« White’s Journal,” (Potorois murinus, Desm.), which inhabits Ne / i oe

ne ; .), which inhabits New South W ales; it has not been an ex-

amination of dried skins which has induced this opinion, but abundar ities f 1
7 s 0 ma a Ie . VAN Wey, 7 eae
| ; abundant opportunities for observing the animal

Ever since my visit to Australia I have been induced to consider the animal here figured, which i
; ’ Ss

in a state of nature. Mr. Waterhouse, although he has made them identical, evidently had some doubt on
the subject, since, when figuring the skull of the Van Diemen’s Land animal, in comparison with that of
the one from New South Wales, he places a note of interrogation after the name he has given to the former.
I must admit that they are very closely allied, at the same time I find peculiar and well-marked characters
by which they may each be distinguished from the other. The Tasmanian animal is always nearly a third
larger in size, and has the tip of its tail white, a feature I have never seen in any other ao tlhe free species
inhabiting the continent of Australia.

The Hypsiprymnus apicalis is very generally, I may say universally, dispersed over Van Diemen’s Land;
and I seldom failed to find it in low damp situations clothed with dense herbage: during the daytime it
lies coiled up in its nest among the herbage in a depression of the ground ; a very little noise near its
retreat is, however, sufficient to disturb its repose, and cause it to dart away with rabbit-like rapidity to
it can seldom be induced to break covert into the open space, and if sharply pressed,

a place of security :
or stone, which everywhere abound ; its food consists of roots,

invariably takes to the shelter of a large tree
I must not omit to remark, that in no instance have I known
while that of the members of the genus
a drawing of this animal from life, and

herbage, and the bark and leaves of trees.
dogs to partake of the flesh of this species either raw or dressed ;
Bettongia is seldom refused. Mr. Richter has made so correct
has so well represented in the reduced figures two of the positions frequently assumed by it, that a glance
ation on this point than any description. ;
ner parts of the body it is of a dusky brown, a general tint
the visible portion of the longer and coarser
the under surface of the body is of a
that of the back of a deepish
and externally with hairs of
an the body, and

at the Plate will give more inform

The fur is long and of a dark hue; on the up]
produced by the admixture of brown and pale brownish yellow,
hairs being black, and that of the shorter fur of a pale yellow hue ;
buff tint, with the fur of those parts as well as
d internally with dirty white hairs,
the tail is of a darker hue th
y naked in front, but a narrow naked

dirty yellowish white or pale
grey colour next the skin; the ears are clothe
the same colour as the rest of the head ; the feet are brown ;
is tipped for about an inch with pure white; the muzzle is not onl
space continues upward towards the forehead.

The front figure represents the animal of the natural size.

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