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KANGAROO. The word Bettong is a native name for a group of small kangaroos that are easily recognised by the shape of their heads, which are peculiarly short, thick, and round, and very unlike the long deer-like head of the larger kangaroos.

The Brush-tailed Bettong is about as large as a hare, and its tail is not quite a foot in length, though it appears longer in consequence of a brush-like tuft of long hair which decorates the end. It is a pretty creature, elegant in shape, extremely active, and the white pencillings on the brown back, the grey-white belly, and the jetty tuft on the tail are in beautiful contrast to each other.

The home of this animal is a kind of compromise between a burrow and a house, being partly sunk below the surface of the ground and partly built above it. The localities wherein the Bettong is found are large grassy hills whereon there is hardly any cover, and where the presence of a nest large enough to contain the animal, and yet small enough to escape observation, appears to be almost impossible. The Bettong, however, sets about its task by examining the ground until it finds a moderately deep depression, if possible near a high tuft of grass.

Using this depression as the foundation of the nest, it builds a roof over it with leaves, grass, and similar materials, not high enough to overtop the neighbouring herbage, and being very similar to it in external appearance. Grass of a suitable length cannot always be obtained close to the nest, and the Bettong is therefore obliged to convey it from a distance. This task it performs in a manner so curious, that were it not related by so accurate and trustworthy an observer as Mr. Gould, it could hardly be credited. After the animal has procured a moderately large bunch of grass, it rolls its tail round it so as to form it into a sheaf, and then jumps away to its nest, carrying the bunch of grass in its tail. In Mr. Gould's work on the Macropidæ of Australia, there is an illustration which represents the Bettong leaping over the ground with its grass sheaf behind it. After the nest has been completed, the mother Bettong is always careful to close the entrance whenever she leaves her home, pulling a loose tuft of grass over the aperture.

To an ordinary European eye, the homes of the Bettong are quite undistinguishable from the surrounding grass. The natives, however, seldom pass a nest without seeing it, and destroying

the inmate. Being a nocturnal animal, the Bettong is sure to be at home and asleep during the daytime, so that when a native passes a nest he always dashes his tomahawk into its midst, thus killing or stunning the sleeping inmates.

THE second Building Mammal on our list is also a native of Australia, and is known by the name of RABBIT-EARED BANDICOOT (Perameles, [or Charopus] castanotis). Of the two generic names the latter is certainly preferable, as it alludes to the remarkable structure of the limbs. The fore feet are small and delicate, and only two toes are developed. Instead of being furnished with long claws at their extremity the feet are terminated by two short and pointed claws of equal length, and looking exactly like the hoofs of a pig. It is in allusion to this peculiarity that the generic name "Choropus," or swine-footed has been given to the animal.

It is a rather odd-looking little creature, about as large as an ordinary rabbit, and having ears so long and large that the resemblance to the rabbit is really striking. Owing to the great length of the hind legs, the gait of the animal is rather peculiar, being a kind of mixture between walking and hopping, and when the creature is alarmed, it jumps away with wonderful speed. Specimens of this Bandicoot have lived in England.

The nest which it makes is not unlike that of the Bettong, which has been already described. The animal inhabits the same kind of locality-namely, grass-covered hills, and "scrubs," and builds its nest of grass and leaves, sheltering it if possible beneath a grass tuft or some thick bush. The Rabbit-eared Bandicoot inhabits New South Wales, and the nests are chiefly to be found near the banks of the Murray River. They are, however, so cleverly hidden, and the materials of which they are built are so similar to surrounding objects, that an inexperienced person might almost walk over them without discovering their

presence.

We now come to our last example of the Building Mammalia; namely, the MUSQUASH, or ONDATRA of North America (Fiber Zibethicus), sometimes called the Musk Rat.

This animal might have been placed among the burrowers, for it is quite as good an excavator as many which have been

described under that title, but as it builds as well as burrows, it has been reserved for its present position in the work.

Essentially a bank-haunting animal, it is never to be seen at any great distance from water, and like the beaver, to which it is closely allied, it is usually to be found either in the river itself or on its edge, where its brown, wet fur harmonizes so well with the brown, wet mud, that the creature can scarcely be distinguished from the surrounding soil. It is seen to the best advantage in the water, where it swims and dives with consummate ease, aided greatly by the webs which connect the hinder

toes.

The Musquash drives a large series of tunnels into the bank, excavated in various directions, and having several entrances, all of which open under the surface of the water. The tunnels are of considerable length, some being as much as fifty or sixty feet in length, and they all slope slightly upwards, uniting in a single chamber in which is the couch of the inhabitants. If the animal happens to live upon a marshy and uniformly wet soil, it becomes a builder, and erects houses so large that they look like small haycocks. Sometimes these houses are from three to four feet in height.

The natives take advantage of the habits of the animal, and kill it while it lies on its couch, much after the same manner as is used by the natives of Australia when they pass the house of the Bettong. Taking in his hand a large four-barbed spear, shaped something like the well-known "grains" with which sailors kill dolphins and porpoises, the native steals up to the house, and driving his formidable weapon through the walls, is sure to transfix the inhabitants. Holding the spear firmly with one hand, with the other he takes his tomahawk from his belt, dashes the house to pieces, and secures the unfortunate animals. As the fur of the Musquash is valuable, and the flesh is considered as good as that of the duck, it is greatly persecuted by hunters, who generally employ one of four methods, two of which require a knowledge of the home. One plan has already been described, and another consists in finding out the different entrances, blocking them up, and then intercepting the animals as they try to escape. Sometimes the gun is used, but not very frequently, as the Musquash is so wary, that it dives at the least alarm, darts into one of its holes, and will not show itself

again until assured of safety. The trap, however, is the ordinary means of destruction. This is made of iron, and is set in such a manner that as soon as the animal is caught its struggles cause the trap to fall into the water, dragging after it the Musquash, which is soon drowned.

In its subterranean home the Musquash lays up large stores of provisions, and in the habitation have been found turnips, parsnips, carrots, and even maize. All the roots had been dug out of the soil, and the maize had been bitten off close to the ground. The Musquash is not a large animal, the length of its head and body being only fourteen inches.

I have in my collection a curious bag or pouch made from the skin of the Musquash by a very simple process. The animal has been laid on its back, and the skin divided transversely across the lower part of the abdomen. The body has then been gradually turned out of the skin, all the limbs removed except the paws, and the skull also taken away. The inside of the skin is then dried, and prepared in some ingenious manner so that it serves as a convenient pouch, the slit across the abdomen forming the entrance, the tail acting as a handle for suspension, and the feet dangling as ornaments. For this curious specimen I am indebted to Lieutenant Pusey, R.N.

CHAPTER XVI.

BUILDING BIRDS.

THE OVEN BIRD and its place in ornithology-Its general habits-Nest of the Oven Bird-Curious materials and historical parallel-The specimens in the British Museum-The internal architecture of the nest-Division into chambers-The PIED GRALLINA-The specimens at the Zoological GardensMaterials and form of the nest-Boldness of the bird-The SONG THRUSH and its nest-The BLACKBIRD and its clay-lined nests-Supposed reasons for the lining-The FAIRY MARTIN-Locality, shape, and materials of the nest― Social habits of the bird-How the nest is built-The RUFOUS-NECKED SWALLOW -Locality and abundance of its nests-Curious habit of the bird-Audubon's account-The RUFOUS-BELLIED SWALLOW-Supplementary nest-How the bird builds-Popular superstition and its uses-The HOUSE MARTIN-Material of its nest-Favourite localitics--Ingenuity of the Martin-Adaptation to circumstances-Parasitic intruders, their number, dimensions, and tenacity of lifeThe SWALLOW-Distinction between its nest and that of the Martin-Why called the Chimney Swallow-TALLEGALLA, or BRUSH TURKEY-The illustration explained-Various names of the Bird-Its singular and enormous nestHow the eggs are laid and hatched-Egress of the young-Remarkable instinct. AUSTRALIAN JUNGLE FOWL-Shape, size, and position of its nests-How the eggs are discovered-LEIPOA or NATIVE PHEASANT-Its mound-nest, and general habits.

AMONG the building birds, there is one species which is preeminently chief. Not only is there no equal, but there is no second. This is the OVEN BIRD (Furnarius fuliginosus), which derives its popular name from the shape and material of its nest.

The Oven Bird belongs to the family of the Certhidæ, and is therefore allied to the well-known Creeper of our own country. It is about as large as a lark, and is a bold looking bird, rather slenderly built, and standing very upright. Its colour is warm brown. It is very active, running and walking very fast, and is much on the wing, though its flights are not of long duration, consisting chiefly of short flittings from bush to bush in search of insects. It generally haunts the banks of South American rivers, and is a fearless little bird, not being alarmed even at the presence of man.

The male has a hard shrill note,

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