Natural History: Mammalia/Myrmecobiadæ

by Philip Henry Gosse

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Family III. Myrmecobiadæ.

The Family thus named was founded on a single specimen, and though two or three more individuals have since been sent to Europe, they are all of the same species. Its characters are as follow.

Genus Myrmecobius. (Waterhouse.)

The fore-feet are furnished with five toes each, which are armed with strong, curved claws, a little compressed: on the hind feet there are but four toes of a similar character, all free. The head is much lengthened, with a pointed snout; the ears are of moderate size, narrow, erect and pointed: the body is long and slender, the tail rather long, and clothed with loose hair. The number and arrangement of the teeth are thus expressed:—inc. 8/6; can. 1—1/1—1; false molars, 4—4/5—5; molars, 4—4/4—4;$=$52; a greater number than is found in any mammal, with the exception of some among the Dolphins and Armadillos. The molars are small, and insectivorous in their form; the branches of the lower jaw are singularly twisted, so that the outer surfaces of the true molars come in contact with the grinding surface of those of the upper jaw.

The Banded Myrmecobius is a beautiful little creature, about as large as a Squirrel. The fore-

BANDED MYRMECOBIUS.

BANDED MYRMECOBIUS.

parts are of a bright rust-red, the hind parts nearly black; the body is elegantly marked with six or seven transverse bands of a cream colour, beautifully distinct and clear behind; the underparts are of a dull whitish hue. It has hitherto been obtained only at the Swan River colony.

This very interesting little animal was first made known by Lieutenant Dale of Liverpool, who discovered it while conducting an exploring party in the interior of the Swan River settlement, at the distance of about ninety miles to the south-east of the mouth of that river. "Two of these animals," observes Lieutenant Dale, "were seen within a few miles of each other: they were first observed on the ground, and on being pursued, both directed their flight to some hollow trees which were near. We succeeded in capturing one of them; the other was unfortunately burnt to death in our endeavour to dislodge it, by fumigating the hollow tree in which it had taken refuge. The country in which they were found, abounded in decayed trees and ant-hills." Mr. Waterhouse was informed that others have been seen in the act of burrowing, or digging at the roots of trees in search after insects. Their favourite haunts are said to be those in which the Port Jackson willow is abundant.