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HALMATURUS THETIDIS, Geog: & F Cw.

Pademelon Wallaby.

Spec. Char.—H. vellere mediocriter sa ,
: ‘ . vellere mechocriter molh ; intense fusco ; h 1S 1 } y
ense fusco ; humeris, nuchd, et colli lateribus ferruginers ; ot gula albis ;
antibrachits cinerescentibus ; antipedid lib tare Sf : ete ee
me ap ; antipedibus, pedibus, tarsisque saturate fuscis ; caude lateribus wa pilis vestites, et squamas
epidermidis ostendentibus.
Descr.—Fur rather soft; gener
: SOIt en 3 r de frown: S rs, SI 1
we . ; general colour deep brown; shoulders, sides and back of the neck rusty red; ears furnished
internally wit are Tet TOMneiS cee . .
; 2 y wit S es ately long dirty white hairs; upper lip dirty white; chin and throat white; remainder of
he under surface dirty white; arms greyis ; ; ;
el Re surface ont white; arms greyish; hands brown ; tarsi and feet uniform dark brown ; tail brownish
or The r € ot ry th o a) . 1 P 1 1
grey above and dirty white beneath; on the sides of the tail the hairs are scanty, and the scales covering the
tail are very apparent. ,

Male.
feet. inches.
Length from the tip of the nose to the extremity Oi ne tal 5 o o o & 0
3 oftail (2
3 ,, tarsus and toes, including the nail ee 3
/ anmeancl handsamelicuney (henna sl sire gec eee 5
ss ., face from the tip of the nose to the base Or IN CBP 6 o « 44
is eal a ee 2

Halmaturus Thetidis, Geoff. & F. Cuv. Mamm., p. lvi.
Pademelon of the colonists of New South Wales.

 

Or the smaller species of Wallaby inhabiting Australia, the present is perhaps the one best known to the colonists, inas-
much as it is more abundant in New South Wales than any other. It is strictly a brush animal ; and consequently only
to be found in such localities. All the brushes I have visited from Illawarra to the Hunter, as well as those of the great
range which stretches along parallel with the coast, are equally favoured with its presence ; [ have also received specimens
from Moreton Bay. It is not unfrequently found running in the same locality, and even in company with the H. Uala-
batus, although the very humid parts of the forest appear to be less suited to it than to that species.

As an article of food, few animals are so valuable, its flesh being tender and well-flavoured, and more like that of the
Common Hare than that of any other European animal I can compare it with.

The sexes are precisely alike in colour, but the female is a trifle smaller in size.

The species appears to have been first brought to Europe by the French navigators, who applied to it the inappro-
priate term of Thetidis (after their vessel), which, however, it would not be right to alter. Having seen the original
specimen in Paris, which is said to have been brought from Port Jackson, I am satisfied of its identity with my own
specimens. I mention this circumstance, particularly as the name of Zhetidis has been placed as a synonym of Eugen,
an animal brought home by Peron, and which I now believe to be identical with 7. Derbyanus.

The H. Ualabatus must be classed among the smaller Halmatur?, beg scarcely so large as H. Derbyanus or Hi. Bil-

lardierit.