HAPALOTIS MITCHELLII.
Mitchell's Hapalotis.
Dipus Mitchelli, Ogilby in Linn. Trans., vol. xviii. p. 129.—Mitch. Trav., vol. ii. p. 144. pi. 29.—Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 151.
Hapalotis Mitchellii, Gray, App. to Grey's Trav., vol. ii. p. 404.
—— Gouldii, Gray, App. to Grey's Trav., vol. ii. pp. 404 and 413.
Djyr-dow-in, Aborigines around Perth, and
Mat-tee-getch, Aborigines in the neighbourhood of Moore's River, Western Australia.
The animal here represented was originally described by Mr. Ogilby under the name of Dipus Mitchellii, from a drawing by Major Sir Thomas L. Mitchell of a specimen obtained by him on the banks of the river Murray in South Australia, and now deposited in the Museum at Sydney; since that period specimens have been sent to the Zoological Society of London by the late Mr. J. B. Harvey from South Australia, and to myself by Mr. Gilbert from Western Australia, all of which appear to be identical with the animal discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell; at least the specimens from Southern and Western Australia have been found on comparison to be precisely similar, and Mr. Gilbert informs me that on examining the Major's specimen in the Sydney Museum, he could perceive no specific difference between it and those transmitted by himself from Western Australia. That they are identical there can be little doubt, when we take into consideration that Sir Thomas Mitchell's specimen was procured at no great distance from the locality in which Mr. Harvey obtained bis.
The range of this species is very extensive, and it is probable that the greater portion of the interior of the country will hereafter be found to be inhabited by it.
The only information received respecting the habits of this animal is, that in Western Australia it burrows in the ground; taking up its abode on the sides of grassy hills tolerably well-clothed with small trees growing in a light soil. It occasionally makes its way into the stores of the settlers, and commits depredations on the provisions, particularly sugar and raisins, of which it is exceedingly fond.
The sexes in size and colour offer no material difference.
All the upper surface and the outside of the limbs very pale sandy, interspersed over the head and back with fine black hairs, which becoming numerous and longer on the lower part of the back and rump, give that part a black or brown hue; ears naked and of a dark brown; sides of the face, all the under surface, inner side of the limbs and feet greyish white; down the centre of the throat and chest a broad patch of pure silky white; upper surface of the tail dark brown, under surface white, the hairs becoming much lengthened on the upper surface at the tip; whiskers very long, fine and black; the fur is close, very soft, and of a slaty grey at the base, both on the upper and under surface.
The accompanying Plate represents the animal in three positions, and of the natural size.
