BANDICOOT (perhaps a corruption of the native pandi-kokku, pig-rat). (1) The largest known species of rat (Nesokia bandicota), a na tive of India and Ceylon, where it is. also known as Malabar rat and pig-rat, the latter being the significance of the Telugu word of which bandi coot is a corruption. Its body often exceeds a foot in length, is black above and grayish be neath, and has a long tail, very thick at the base. It frequents arid, hilly districts. where its flesh is a favorite article of food with the coolies, and is said to be delicate, and much to resemble young pork. It feeds chiefly un grain and roots, and is very destructive to gardens and to poul try, burrowing under walls to reach what it wants. "Its nests, when rifled, are frequently found to contain considerable quantities of rice, stored up against the dry season." It is not known north of the Ganges and Indus. (2) A small marsupial of the family Peramelifke, and especially of the genus Perameles, whose species are scattered throughout Australasia. They have
a shrewlike head and muzzle. with 10 cutting teeth in the upper jaw and only two in the lower. "They . . . live entirely in the ground. mak ing nests composed of dried leaves, grass. and sticks, in hollow places. They are rather mixed feeders ; but insects, worms, roots, and bulb, con stitute their ordinary diet.'' (3) The RABBIT BANDICOOTS belong to the cognate genus Perogale: and are larger, with harelike form and gait. Hence the commonest species (Perogale it known in its home (Western Australia ) as the `native rabbit.' It burrows, but its food and gen eral habits are those of the bandicoots proper; and, like them, it frequently injures vegetable gardens. (4) A smaller relative is the pig-tailed bandicoot (Clurropus eastanotis).