when
tired go on all four, holding their tail perfectly horizontal. They breed
in the flats on little mounds, burrowing inwards from the edge; various
passages tending like the radii of a wheel to a common centre, to which a
hole is made from the top of the mound, so that there is a communication
from it to all the passages.

They are taken by the natives in hundreds, who avail themselves of a fall
of rain to rove through the sandy ridges to hunt these little animals and
the talpero, Perameles, as long as there shall be surface water. We had
five of these little animals in a box, that thrived beautifully on oats,
and I should have succeeded in getting them to Adelaide if it had not
been for the carelessness of one of the men in fastening a tarpauline
down over them one dreadful day, by which means they were smothered.

6. MUS CONDITOR, GOULD.--The Building Rat.

Inhabits the brushes in the Darling, in which it builds a nest of small
sticks, varying in length from eight inches to three, and in thickness,
from that of a quill to that of the thumb. The fabric is so firm and
compact as almost to defy destruction except by fire. The animals live in
communities, and have passages leading into apartments in the centre of
the mound or pyramid, which might consist of three or four wheelbarrows
full of the sticks, are about four feet in diameter, and three feet high.
The animal itself is like an ordinary rat, only that it has longer ears
and its hind feet are disproportioned to the fore feet. It was not found
beyond latitude 30 degrees. See page 120, Vol. I.

7. ACROBATES PYGMAEA.--Flying Opossum Mouse.

This beautiful and delicate little animal was killed in a Box tree,
whence it came out of a hole, and ran with several others along a branch,
retreating again with great swiftness. It was so small that if the moon
had not been very bright it could not have been seen. It is somewhat less
than a mouse in size and has a tail like an emu's feather, its skin being
of a dark brown.

8. LAGORCHESTES FASCIATUS (L. ALBIPILIS, GOULD?).--Fasciated Kangaroo.

One only of this animal was seen on the plains of the interior. It is
peculiar in its habits, in that it lies in open ground and springs from
its form like a hare, running with extreme velocity, and doubling short
round upon its pursuers to avoid them. The Lagorchestes is very common on
the plains to the north of Gawler Town, but is so swift as generally to
elude the dogs. It is