16 INTRODUCTION. 



of Torres* Straits. Tasmania is frequented by two {Dasyurus 

 maculatus and B.viverrinm), the southern parts of the mainland 

 by the same two species with the addition of a third'(73. Geoffroi/i), 

 while the D. hallucatus inhabits the north. The animals of this 

 genus are very viverrine both in their appearance and in their 

 sanguinary disposition, and are probably the true representatives 

 in Australia of that group of quadrupeds. The term ' sangui- 

 nary' is rightly applied to some of these animals, yet there is 

 not one which a child might not conquer. The boldest of them 

 are more troublesome than dangerous, and a robbery of the hen- 

 roost is the utmost of the depredations their nature prompts 

 them to commit. 



I now come to the most bloodthirsty of the Australian 

 mamnuds — the Wolf of the Marsupials — the Thyhicinus of 

 Tasmania's forest-clad country — the only member of its Order 

 which gives trouble to the shepherd or uneasiness to the 

 stockholder. Van Diemen's Land is the true and only home of 

 this somewhat formidable beast, which occasionally deals out de- 

 struction among the flocks of the settler, to which it evinces a 

 decided preference over the Brush Kangaroos, its more ancient 

 food. To man, however, it is not an object of alarm ; for the 

 shepherd, aided by his dog, and stick in hand, does not for a 

 moment hesitate about attacking and killing it. The large life- 

 sized head and the reduced ligures given in the body of the 

 work well represent the Thylacinus, and all that is known of its 

 habits will be found in the accompanying letter-press. 



Until lately, only one species of Phascolonajs or Wombat was 

 clearly defined ; but we now know that tlu;re are three, if )U)t four, 

 very distinct kinds ; and in all probability others may yet be 

 discovered, and ])rove that this form has a much more extended 

 range than is at present supposed. The P. Wombat is still 

 abundant in Van Diemen's Land and on some of the islands 

 in Bass's Straits ; and two or three species burrow in the plains 

 of the southern countries of Australia generally. These huge, 

 heavy, and short-legged animals, nivelling in a si site of obesity. 



