﻿126 Allen's naturalist's library. 



Phascolo7nys fusca, Illiger, Prodz. Syst. Mamm., p. 78 (181 1). 

 Phascoloniys vombatus, Leach, Zool. MiscelL, vol. ii., p. 102 



(1815). 

 Phascolotnys wombat^ Peron and Lessueur, Voyage Terr. 

 Austral., vol. ii., p. 13 (18 16). 



Phascoloniys ursinus^ Cuvier, Regne Animal, vol. i., p. 185 

 (1817); Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 215 (i888j. 



Phascolojnys bassii, Lesson, Man. Mamm., p. 229 (1827). 



Phascoloniys fosso?', Wagner, in Schreber's Saugeth., Suppl., 

 vol. iii., p. 132 (1843). 



[Plate XIX.) 



Characters. — Differs from the preceding species merely by 

 being about one-fourth less in size. Colour uniform dark 

 grizzled greyish-brown. Length of head and body about 38 

 inches. 



Distribution. — Tasmania, and the islands of Bass Straits. 



In remarking on its inferior size, as compared with its cousin 

 of the mainland, Mr. Thomas observes that this is an instance 

 of the reversal of the prevalent rule that the Mammals of Tas- 

 mania exceed in dimension their nearest allies inhabiting con- 

 tinental Australia. 



Habits.— Like most Marsupials, the Wombats are essentially 

 nocturnal animals, remaining concealed throughout the day in 

 their subterranean quarters, from whence they issue forth at 

 ni^ht to feed. They are the only members of the Diprotodont 

 division of the order which are thoroughly fossorial, and it 

 appears that they generally excavate their own dwellings in the 

 ground, although they may take advantage of natural clefts or 

 holes. Their food consists partly of grass and other herbage, 

 but mainly of roots, which their powerful front teeth are ad- 

 mirably adapted to gnaw. From specimens kept in confine- 



