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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6

20. Bettongia Penicillata. — Pencil-tailed Bettongia. — Pattuck of the Murray natives

20. Bettongia Penicillata.

Pencil-tailed Bettongia.

Pattuck of the Murray natives.

The smallest of the whole family, nocturnal in its habits. Those occasionally seen during the day time have been disturbed. page 21 It is not very quick, and is easily caught, even by common dogs. I have from time to time kept numbers of these animals in captivity in an enclosure of pine logs about seven feet high, which they used to climb with a nimbleness truly astonishing, and thus often escaped. During the day time I always noticed these creatures crouching into some corner; the tail brought forward between the hind legs, the head between their paws; fast asleep. I noticed that they are very partial to the thick clusters of Polygonum scrub so frequent on the Murray.

Female specimens, with never more than 1 young attached to one of the 4 teats, were frequently brought to me by the natives. Single specimens, with a white brush at the end of the tail, occur occasionally.

This Bettongia and B. Ogilbeyi appear to be so closely allied to each other that I should consider them the same species.