HALMATURUS THETIDIS, f . C u v . 4- Geoff.
Pademelon Wallaby.
Halmaturus Thetidis, F. Cuv. et Geoff. Mamm., tab. 56.—F. Cuv. Less. Zool. de M. Bougainville’s Journ. de la
Navig. autour du Monde de la Frigate Thetis, &c., tom. ii. p. 305. pi. 37.—Gould, Mon. of Macro-
podidas, pi.
---------------nuchalis, Wagn. in Schreb. Saug. Suppl., part 111-112. p. 128 (Waterhouse).
Macropus ( Halmaturus) Thetidis, Waterh. Nat. Hist, of Mamm., vol. i. p. 144.
Pademelon of the colonists of New South Wales.
Of the smaller species of Wallaby inhabiting New South Wales, the present is perhaps the one best
known to the colonists, inasmuch as it is more abundant 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; I have also received specimens from Moreton Bay. It is not unfrequently found
running in the same locality, and even in company, with the H Ualabatus, 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 smaller than the male.
The species appears to have been first brought to Europe by the French navigators, who applied to it the
inappropriate term of Thetidis (after their vessel), which, however, it would not be right to alter. Haring
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 Thetidis
has been placed as a synonym of Eugenii, an animal brought home by Peron, and which I now believe to be
identical with H. Derbyanus.
The H Thetidis must be classed among the smaller Halmaturi, being scarcely so large as H. Derbyanus
or H Billardierii,
Fur rather soft; general colour deep brown; shoulders, sides and back of the neck rusty-red; ears furnished
internally with moderately long dirty-white hairs; upper lip dirty-white; chin and throat white •
remainder of the under surface dirty-white; arms greyish; hands brown; tarsi and feet uniform dark
brown ; tail brownish-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 of the tail . . . 3 0
- „ of tail ................................................. . . 1 0
,, ,, tarsus and toes, including the n a i l ................................. 5-f-
„ ,, arm and hand, including the n a i l s ....................... 5
„ „ face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear . . 4 |
„ „ e a r ................................................................................ 2
The accompanying Plates represent the head and shoulders of the size of life, and reduced -figures of the
entire animal.