i66 Weindorfer and Francis, Wild Life in Tasmania. [y^^^^V,^!* 



XXXVI. 



elapsed before it came to the surface, when the spitting, 

 spluttering animal, swimming much after the fashion of a 

 dog, its legs constantly under water, its mouth barely clearing 

 the surface, made for the nearest shore, where dogs and man 

 were waiting. It was again seized, and the performance was 

 repeated twice, each time with the same result, with the only 

 exception that its reappearances on the surface of the water 

 were much quicker. Finally, nothing the worse for its first 

 acquaintance with man, it relieved its dusky-coloured pelt of 

 the adhering water by a vigorous shake, and, slowly waddling 

 along, left the scene of the experiment. That the wombat 

 can hold out under water for a considerable time was proved 

 on an occasion when the brain of one was required for scientific 

 purposes. Failing a gun, it was decided to drown the animal, 

 and it took two men about five minutes to keep the animal 

 under water until its struggles ceased. 



With regard to its place of dwelling the wombat is by no 

 means particular. When about two years old it will leave or 

 be deserted by its mother, and will try here and there to burrow, 

 as is evidenced all over the country by unsuccessful attempts 

 to penetrate the rocky soil. As to the construction of the 

 burrow, it would appear that the shape of it is mainly governed 

 by circumstances. The entrance, however, which is invariably 

 single, will always lead down at an angle of lo to 15 degrees. 

 The interior is devoid of bedding of any kind, and, as it is not 

 always dry, it is no wonder that the animal is very fond of a 

 sun bath amongst tufts of cutting-grass or against rocks and 

 logs. It is tolerably certain that, while the male makes its 

 burrow in the thick scrub, the female chooses an open situation 

 for this purpose, where its young run less chance of being 

 attacked by the tiger-cat or other frequenters of the former 

 situation. 



The breeding season of the wombat is not confined to any 

 particular time of year, for at any time one — and only one — 

 young, in different stages of development, may be found in 

 the pouch. For that reason it is impossible to say how often 

 a wombat becomes a mother. Observations on specimens 

 held in captivity might throw light on the subject ; but then, 

 perhaps, the artificial conditions under which the animal would 

 have to live would materially alter its habits. 



The young wombat, when just too big for its mother's 

 pouch, is easily tamed — in fact, there is no taming necessary. 

 Once taken away from its mother, it will fohow anything that 

 moves — a man, a dog, or a horse (perhaps even a motor-car). 

 They make admirable pets, but later on their propensity for 

 burrowing, especially when executed in the vegetable or flower 

 garden, makes them something of a nuisance. Once they 



