PERAMELES FASCIATA, Gray.
Banded Perameles.
Perameles fasciata, Gray in App. to Capt. Grey's Journ. of Two Exp. of Discovery in N.W. and W. Australia, vol. ii. p. 407.—Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 379.—Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 95.
This elegant species of Perameles enjoys a wide range over the eastern and southern portions of Australia, hut is more frequently met with in the country within the ranges, or what is commonly called in the colony " the interior," than in the districts lying between the mountains and the sea. In New South Wales, the stony ridges which branch off from the ranges towards the rivers Darling and Namoi, are localities in which it may always be found; in South Australia I hunted it myself on the stony ranges and spurs which run down towards the great bend of the river Murray. On reference to my notes, I find the following entry:—"July 1, 1839. Killed for the first time the Striped-backed Bandicoot, on the ranges bordering the great scrub on the road to the Murray. I started the animal from the crest of one of the stony ridges, and after a sharp chase of about a hundred yards it took shelter under a stone, and was easily captured; it passed over the ground with considerable rapidity, and with a motion precisely similar to the galloping of a pig, to which animal it also assimilates in the tenacity with which its skin adheres to the flesh; on dissection its stomach was found to contain the remains of caterpillars and other insects, a few seeds and fibrous roots; the flesh on being roasted proved delicate and excellent food; as is also that of most, if not all, the other members of the genus." His Excellency Governor Grey transmitted examples to this country during his residence at Adelaide, accompanied by the following note: "This animal is found in the vast open plains near the head of St. Vincent's Gulf, and where no other species is to he met with."
The sexes assimilate in colour, the female being as conspicuously marked as the male, but of a smaller size; the markings of the back are also as apparent in the young animal as in the adult.
The Perameles fasciata is very nearly allied to P. Gunnii, but is of a much smaller size, has the ears proportionately rather longer and broader at the base, the tail longer and dusky along the whole upper surface, instead of for a small space at the base; the feet and muzzle are also more slender.
Fur moderately long and harsh to the touch; upper surface pencilled with black and yellow in about equal proportions; on the sides of the body the yellow, and on the hinder part of the back the black prevails as a ground colour, but here are three broad yellowish-white bands, the foremost of which crosses the back, the other two run obliquely downwards and backwards from the mesial line; the posterior of these two is almost longitudinal, and the one in front of this joins the foremost band; these bands are interrupted in the middle of the back; under surface of the body and the feet white; the tail is also white, but along the whole upper surface the hairs are partly black and partly yellow.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life.
