THE WOMBATS. 125 
and their characters may be taken as identical with those of 
the family. 
I. COMMON WOMBAT. PHASCOLOMYS MITCHELLI. 
Phascolomys mitchelli, Owen, in Mitchell’s Exped. Australia, 
vol. i1., p. 362 (1838); Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., 
p. 213 (1888). 
Phastolomys platyrhinus, Owen, Cat. Osteol. Mus. R. Coll. 
sure., vol. i., p.334, (1853), 
Characters.—Size large; naked portion of muzzle large; 
fur coarse, harsh, and rough. Colour either yellow, grizzled 
yellow and black, or black. Ears short rounded, and fully 
haired. Fifteen pairs of ribs. Length of head and body about 
44 inches, 
Distribution.—New South Wales, Victoria, and South Aus- 
tralia. 
Varying considerably in coloration, but apparently only 
individually, and not according to geographical distribution, 
this species is noteworthy as having been originally described 
on the evidence of fossil remains from the superficial deposits 
of Australia. Many years, however, elapsed before the so-called 
Phascolomys platyrhinus was ascertained to be inseparable from 
the fossil form. Its habits may be considered in connection 
with those of the next species. 
II, TASMANIAN WOMBAT. PHASCOLOMYS URSINUS. 
Didelphis ursina, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i pt. ii, p. 504 
(1800). 
Wembatus fossor, Desmarest, Nouv. Dict d’Hist. Nat., vol. 
XX1V.; BP. 20( 1303). 
