126 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY, 
Phascolomys fusca, Wiger, Prodz. Syst. Mamm., p. 78 (1811). 
Phascolomys vombatus, Leach, Zool. Miscell., vol. ii., p. 102 
(1815). 
LPhascolomys wombat, Péron and Lessueur, Voyage Terr. 
Austral., vol. ii, p. 13 (1816). 
Phascolomys ursinus, Cuvier, Régne Animal, vol. i, p. 185 
(1817) ; Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 215 (1888). 
Phascolomys bassti, Lesson, Man. Mamm., p. 229 (1827). 
Lhascolomys fossor, Wagner, in Schreber’s Saugeth., Suppl., 
vol. ili., 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 
night 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 ir confine- 
eee ee se ee 
