BETTONGIA FASCIATA.
Banded Jerboa Kangaroo.
Spec. Char.—B . iellere longo molli, saturate fis c o , pilis ad basin ciñereis in medio albis j exindè ferrugineoftams, ad apicem
saturate fuscis ; vellere corporis superioris pilis longis albis sericeis, crebrè adsperso ; dorso inferiore fasciis nigris vix
conspicuis, transversim notato ; spatio circumoculariflavescenti-fusco ; tarsis, et artubus posticis externe f t acido lava fis.
Descr.—Fur long and soft ; general colour deep brown grey at the base, white towards the apex o f the hairs, and rusty
yellow shaded into dark brown at the point ; fur o f the upper surface interspersed with numerous long silky white
hairs ; on the lower half o f the back are about twelve or thirteen, not very defined, transverse black bands, each
o f which is bordered above with white, and below with rusty yellow ; throat and under surface white ; chin,
muzzle, and a space round the eye yellowish brown ; tarsi and outer side o f the legs tinged with yellow ; hair of
the hands and base o f the toes whitish ; internal surface o f the ears white ; tail covered with short, adpressed,
grizzled grey and white, or in parts black and white hairs ; about an inch and a half o f the apical portion covered
with longer black hairs.
Male.
feet, inches.
Length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail . . . . 2 4
„ of t a i l ................................................................................................. 10-f
„ „ tarsus and toes, including the n a il............................................. 4-J-
,, ,, arms and hand, including the nails. .................................. 3
,, „ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear . . . 3
I § e a r ........................................... l£
Kangurus fasciatus, Peron et Leseur, Voy. aux Terres Australes, tom. i. p. 114 ; and Atlas, pi. 27.—Desm. Ency. Méth.
Mamin., p. 274.
Kangaroo élégant, Cuv. Coll. de Paris.
Halmaturus elegans, Cuv. Règne Auim., tom. i. p. 187.
Hypsiprymnus Leseuri, Quoy et Gaim. ?
T h r e e specimens of this elegant little animal form part of the collection o f the museum at Paris, which, as far as I
am aware, are the only examples that have yet been brought to Europe: after a careful examiuation o f them u'pon
two different occasions, I believe that they form part o f that division of the family to which Mr. Gray has assigned
the generic title of Bettongia, and that the species is most nearly allied to Bettongia rufescens and B . Graii; at the same
time it exhibits in the character o f its hair, but not in the form and structure o f its teeth, some affinity to the members
o f the genus Lagorchestes.
The Banded Jerboa Kangaroo is a native o f Dirk Hartogs, and other islands situated off the western coast o f Australia
: it was there observed in great abundance by Peron, whose notes are here given as comprising all that is at
present known respecting i t :—
“ It inhabits the impenetrable low thickets, formed of a species of Mimosa, which are found in those islands; from these
bushes it cuts away the lower branches and spines so as to form galleries communicating one with another, and where it takes
refuge in time of danger. The females bring forth but one young at a time. Although abundant on the islands, none were to
be found on the main land. These little Kangaroos, like all feeble animals which have neither the power of attack nor of defence,
are extremely timid. The slightest noise caused them to take flight to the thick brushwood in which their galleries are
constructed, and where it is impossible to pursue them; hence, although very common, they are difficult to procure.
“ The flesh of these animals is said to resemble that of the rabbit, but has a slight aromatic flavour, arising probably from
the nature of the plants on which they feed, nearly all of which are fragrant.
“ All the females carried young in their pouch, and the devotedness with which they sought to save their offspring was truly
admirable. Although wounded they flew with the young in the pouch, and never left them until, overcome with fatigue and
loss of blood, they could no longer carry them; they then stopped, and squatting themselves on the hind legs, helped the young
to get out of the pouch by means of the fore feet, and sought to place them in a situation favourable for retreat.”