kangaroo-rat

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

or Rat-Kangaroo


n.

the name applied to species of Marsupials belonging to thefollowing genera, viz. – – (1) Potorous, (2) Caloprymnus, (3) Bettongia, (4) AEpyprymnus.

1) The first genus ( Potorous, q.v.) includes animalsabout the size of a large rat; according to Gould, althoughthey stand much on their hind-legs they run in a totallydifferent way to the kangaroo, using fore and hind-legs in akind of gallop and never attempting to kick with the hind-feet.The aboriginal name was Potoroo. The species arethree – – the Broad-faced Kangaroo-Rat, Potorous platyops,Gould; Gilbert's, P. gilberti, Gould; Common, P. tridactylus, Kerr. They are confined to Australiaand Tasmania, and one Tasmanian variety of the last species isbigger than the mainland form. There is also a dwarf Tasmanianvariety of the same species.

2) A second genus ( Caloprymnus, q.v.) includes the Plain Kangaroo-Rat; it has only one species, C. campestris, Gould, confined to South Australia.The epithet plain refers to its inhabiting plains.

3) A third genus ( Bettongia, q.v.) includes thePrehensile-tailed Rat-Kangaroos and has four species,distributed in Australia and Tasmania – – Brush-tailed Kangaroo-Rat – – Bettongia penicillata, Gray.

♣ Gaimard's K. – R. – – B. gaimardi, Desm.

♣ Lesueur's K. – R. – – B. lesueuri, Quoy and Gaim.

♣ Tasmanian K. – R. – – B. cuniculus, Ogilby.

4) A fourth genus ( AEpyprymnus, q.v.) includes theRufous Kangaroo-Rat. It has one species, AE. rufescens,Grey. It is the largest of the Kangaroo-Rats and isdistinguished by its ruddy colour, black-backed ears,and hairy nose.

[Mr. Lydekker proposes to call the animal the Rat-Kangaroo (see quotation, 1894), but the name Kangaroo-Rat is now so well-established that it does not seempossible to supersede it by the, perhaps, more correct name of Rat-Kangaroo. The introduction of the word Kangaroo prevents any possibility of confusion betweenthis animal and the true rodent, and it would seem to be amatter of indifference as to which word precedes or follows theother.]

1788. Governor Phillip (Despatch, May 15), in `HistoricalRecords of New South Wales,' vol. I. pt. ii. p. 135:

«Many trees were seen with holes that had been enlarged by thenatives to get at the animal, either the squirrel, kangaroorat, or opossum, for the going in of which perhaps they waitunder their temporary huts, and as the enlarging these holescould only be done with the shell they used to separate theoysters from the rocks, must require great patience.»

1793 Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 61:

«As most of the large trees are hollow by being rotten in theheart, the opossum, kangaroo-rat, squirrel, and various otheranimals which inhabit the woods, when they are pursued,commonly run into the hollow of a tree.»

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. xi.p. 430:

«The poto roo, or kangaroo-rat. . . . This curious animalwhich is indeed a miniature of the Kangaroo.»

1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' c. ii. p. 28:

«The kangaroo-rat is a small inoffensive animal and perfectlydistinct from the ordinary species of rat.»

1836. C. Darwin, `Naturalist's Voyage,' c. xix. p. 321:

«The greyhounds pursued a kangaroo-rat into a hollow tree,out of which we dragged it; it is an animal as large as arabbit, but with the figure of a kangaroo.»

1850. J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 37:

«The kangaroo-rat is twice the size of a large Englishwater-rat, and of the same colour, measuring nearly two feetin length.»

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1853), p. 157:

«Two or three of the smallest kind, called the kangaroo-rat – – about the size of a hare, and affording pretty good coursing.»

1860. Fison and Howitt, `Kamilaroi and Kurnai,' p. 195:

«One of the skin aprons . . . made from the skin of akangaroo-rat.»

1879. C. W. Schurmann, `Native Tribes of Australia – – PortLincoln Tribe,' p. 214:

«The natives use this weapon [the Waddy] principallyfor throwing at kangaroo-rats or other small animals.»

1890. A. H. S. Lucas, `Handbook of the AustralasianAssociation for the Advancement of Science,' Melbourne, p. 63:

«The Victorian Kangaroo rat is Bettongia cuniculus.»

1894. R.Lydekker, `Marsupialia,' p. 63:

«The rat-kangaroos, often incorrectly spoken of askangaroo-rats.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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