iNATOMlCAfc STRUCTURE Of THE WOMBAT. \jf 



III. 



An Account of same Peculiarities in the anatomical Structure 

 of the Wombat. By Evarard Home, Esq. F. R. S*. 



Male wombat was brought from the islands of Basse's 

 Straits, by Mr. Brown, the naturalist attaehed to Cap- Ej^ftfij* 

 tain Flinders's voyage of discovery. It was entrusted to my 

 care, and lived in a domesticated state for two years, which 

 gave me opportunities of attending to its habits. 



It burrowed in the ground whenever it had an opportu- 

 nity, and covered itself in the earth with surprising- quick- ts ha ° lts> 

 ness. It was quiet during the day, but constantly in mo- 

 tion in the night: was very sensible to cold; ate all kinds 

 of vegetables; but was particularly fond of new hay, which 

 it ate stalk by stalk, taking it into its mouth like a beaver, 

 by small bits at a time. It was not wanting in intelligence, 

 and appeared attached to those to whom it was accustomed, 

 and who were kind to it. When it saw them, it would put 

 up its fore paws on the knee, and when taken up would sleep 

 in the lap. It allowed children to pull and carry it about, 

 and when it bit them did not appear to do it in anger or with 

 violence. It appeared to have arrived at its full growth, 

 weighed about twenty pounds, and was about two feet two 

 inches long. 



The koala is another species of the wombat, which par- 

 takes of its peculiarities. The following account of it was The koala an * 

 sent to me some years ago by Lieut. Colonel Paterson, 0t " * pecies * 

 Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. The natives 

 call it the koala wombat; it inhabits the forests of New- 

 Holland, about fifty or sixty miles to the south-west of Port 

 Jackson, and was first brought to Port Jackson in August, " 

 1803. It is commonly about two feet long and one high, in 

 the girth about one foot and a half; it is covered with fine 

 soft fur, lead coloured on the back, and white on the belly. 

 The ears are short, erect, and pointed; the eyes generally 



• Abridged from the Philos. Tram, for 1808, p. 304. 



Vol; XXII.— March, 1809. N ruminating, 



