MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA 203 



its master with mingled feelings, apparently of impudence and 

 curiosity. Alas ! my pet met with an accident and went untimely 

 to the grave. This species is often referred to in the bush as the 

 "Sugar Squirrel." 



LONG-SNOUTED OPOSSUM.— In Western Australia is found the 

 Long-Snouted Opossum (Tarsipes rostratus), which, differing widely 

 from all others, has been placed in a sub-family by itself. Its 

 form is small and slender and the head is long and narrow; the 

 general coloration is grey. The Tarsipes, which is nocturnal in 

 its habits, is a rare species, and very meagre information has been 

 gathered regarding its mode of life in a wild state. It is provided 

 with an extensile tongue, which it employs to glean honey from 

 forest flowers; the tongue is thrust into the fragrant tubes after 

 the manner of the big hawk moths, whose glimmering wings flutter 

 about ivy-mantled walls at twilight. 



Of a captive specimen of this species, Gould writes — 

 " It was strictly nocturnal, sleeping during the greater part of 

 the day, and becoming exceedingly active at night. When intent 

 upon catching flies, it would sit quietly in one corner of its cage, 

 eagerly watching their movements, as, attracted by the sugar, they 

 flew around; and when a fly was fairly within its reach, it bounded, 

 as quick as lightning, and seized it with unerring aim, then retired 

 to the bottom of the cage and devoured it at leisure, sitting tolerably 

 erect and holding the fly between its fore-paws, and always rejecting 

 the head, wings and legs. The artificial food given it was sopped 

 bread, made very sweet with sugar, into which it inserted its long 

 tongue, precisely in the way in which the Honey-Eaters among 

 birds do theirs into the flower-cups for honey." 



THE WOMBATS.— Differing widely from all other Marsupials, 

 the Wombats are ungainly looking but most interesting animals. 

 There are only three species, all included in the one genus. 



COMMON WOMBAT.— The Common Wombat (P. mitchelli) 

 (Fig. 158), which is distributed over New South Wales, Victoria 

 and Tasmania, measures about forty-four inches in length. The fur 

 is coarse and rough and varies much in coloration ; it may be either 

 yellow, grizzled-yellow and black or yellowish. The ears are short 

 and rounded. This Wombat, like its congeners, is sturdily built 

 and very strong, the muscles are powerful and the short stout legs 

 are capable of much work ; the hind-feet are provided with excep- 

 tionally strong claws adapted for digging, and the Wombats, as 



