THE PHASCOGALE. 389 



birth. The habitation of this species is ascertained to be made in the depths of the forests, 

 concealed as far as possible from the light of day, which grievously affects the eyes of this, as 

 of all other strictly nocturnal animals. 



The pain which is caused to the creature by the unwelcome brilliancy of ordinary daylight 

 is constantly indicated by the ceaseless movements of the nictitating membrane over the eye- 

 ball, even when the animal is shrouded in the comparative dimness of a straw-filled den, and 

 shades itself from the glare by crouching in the darkest corner of its cage. 



Aided by the strong fossorial claws of the fore-feet, the Tasmanian Devil digs for itself a 

 deep burrow in the ground, or, taking advantage of some natural hollow or crevice, shapes the 

 interior to suit its own purposes. The hinder feet are made in a manner similar to those of 

 the bear, and, like that animal, the Tasmanian Devil is able to sit erect upon its hinder 

 quarters, and to convey food to its mouth by means of its fore-paws, which it uses in a very 

 adroit manner. 



This animal is also known under the names of Ursine Dasyure and Ursine Opossum. 



OP the animals which have been congregated into the genus Dasyures, four or five species 

 are now admitted to be clearly separated from each other. In color the Dasyures are extremely 

 variable, so much so, indeed, that it is hardly possible to find two individuals of the same spe- 

 cies that are marked in precisely the same manner. 



In the common DASYURE (Dasyurus mverrinus), the general color of the fur is brown, of 

 a very dark hue, sometimes deepening into positive black, diversified with many spots of white, 

 scattered apparently at random over the whole of the body, and varying both in their position 

 and dimensions in almost every individual. In some specimens the tail is washed with white 

 spots similar to those of the body, but in many examples the tail is uniformly dark. In all 

 the Dasyures this member is moderately long, but not prehensile, and is thickly covered with 

 hair ; a peculiarity which has caused zoologists to give the title of Dasyure, or hairy- tail, to 

 these animals. 



They are all inhabitants of Australasia, the common Dasyure being found numerously 

 enough in New Holland, Van Diemen's Land, and some parts of Australia. The habits of all 

 the Dasyures are so very similar that there is no need of describing them separately. They 

 are all rather voracious animals, feeding upon the smaller quadrupeds, birds, insects, and other 

 living beings which inhabit the same country. The Dasyure is said to follow the example of 

 the two preceding animals, and to be fond of roaming along the sea-coasts by night in search 

 of food. 



The Dasyures are all nocturnal animals, and very seldom make voluntary excursions from 

 their hiding-places so long as the sun is above the horizon. 



They do not, like the Tasmanian wolf and the ursine Dasyure, lie hidden in burrows under 

 the earth, or in the depths of rocky ground, but follow the example of the Petaurists, and 

 make their habitations in the hollows of decayed trees. 



The young of the Dasyures are, like those of all the animals of this order, extremely small. 

 Their number is rather variable, but is usually from four to six. In this species the thumb of 

 the hind -feet is entirely absent. 



THE PHASCOGALE, or TAPOA TAFA (Phascogale penieillatcC), as it is termed by the natives 

 of the country which it inhabits, affords an excellent example of the little dependence that is 

 to be placed on mere external appearance in judging the character of any living being. 



In size, the Phascogale is small, hardly exceeding the house-rat of Europe in dimensions. 

 Ihe total length of this creature is about seventeen inches, the long, widely-formed tail occupy 

 ing nine inches, if measured to the point of the hairy tuft that decorates its extremity, and 

 seven inches if denuded of its hairy covering. 



The fur of this animal is long, soft, and woolly, and lies very loosely upon the skin, so that 

 it is disturbed by every slight breath of air that may happen to pass over its surface. In color 

 it is a soft gray on the upper parts of the body, the head, and the outer faces of the limbs, the 

 nnder portions of the body being white, and slightly washed with gray. A few black hairs 



