This image below was taken from the book “ MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES “ published in 1917. The text on page 335 describes the bilby from the image as a rabbit-bandicoot (and did not use the term bilby) and is described as such as it is the larges of a bandicoots and the size of a rabbit”. The bilby in the photo was described in the book as …..

“ female which the dogs had killed, and being then about the size of a mouse. It speedily learned to lap milk, and throve on a diet of bread and raw potato. As it grew larger it was allowed the run of the house, and also of the garden, but habitually returned to the sleeping-quarters selected by itself, and represented by the woolly depths of its mistress's work-basket. In this haven of rest it slept all day, scolding and snapping at any intruding hand. Towards dusk it would waken up and bustle about in a niost energetic manner, with the air, in fact, of having an immense amount of business to transact within \he very shortest limits of time. Its first dart was always towards a corner where, a supper of bread-and-milk find potato was usually placed. This meal discussed, its evening's occupation commenced of scampering, around the room and over every accessible article of furniture. Nor was it shy of climbing up and resting for a few seconds on the shoulders of its human friends, beiijg always:, however, in too great a hurry to prolong the visit. Finally, as with all pets, " Coota,". as he was familiarly named, came to an untimely end—not a cat, however, on this occasion,; but, if rumour whispers true, through over-indulgence in a too liberally furnished pieal of custard pudding. . The flesh of this and other species of bandicoots is esteemed for food both by the natives and the white settlers in Australia. It is noteworthy of the banded variety, more especially, .that the skin adheres so tightly to the flesh that its removal is a matter of some considerable difficulty. . When full grown, this species measures as much as i8 inches in total length, and is little inferior to a rabbit with regard to the amount of good meat it provides for the larder.

Reference

Mammals of other lands; (Page 368) Identifier: cu31924022566826 Year: 1917 (1910s) Authors: Cornish, C. J. (Charles John), 1858-1906Subjects: MammalsPublisher: New York, The University LibraryContributing Library: Cornell University LibraryDigitizing Sponsor: MSN