488 THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 
individuals takes the form of a semilunar band, and in others is contracted to a mere 
spot. Generally, another white mark is found to extend saddlewise across the end of the 
spine, just before the insertion of the tail. This mark is also susceptible of great variation, 
being of considerable dimensions in some specimens, and extremely small in others. 
Now and then a white streak or patch is seen upon the shoulders, but in many individuals 
the shoulders are of equal blackness with the remainder of the body. Behind the 
eyes is a tuft of very long hairs, and another similar tuft is placed immediately 
above them. 
As might be presumed from the heavy make of its body, and the thickset shortness 
of its limbs, the animal is not at all brisk or lively in its movements, and seldom displays 
much energy except when under the influence of the easily-excited irascibility for which 
it is so widely renowned. The head is short and thickly made, the muzzle very blunt, 
and the mouth wide. The gait of the animal is plantigrade, and its movements are in 
general dull and sluggish. 
The length of this animal is about twenty-one inches, exclusive of the tail, which 
measures about seven inches in length, and is moderately well covered with fur. 
Despite of its comparatively small size, this creature is hardly less destructive than 
the Tasmanian wolf, and in the earlier days of the colonists wrought sad havoe among 
the sheep and poultry, especially among the latter. In those days it swarmed in areat 
numbers, but it is now nearly eathionts out of some districts, and is so persecuted by 
the righteous vengeance of the farmers, that a solitary specimen can scarcely now be seen 
in the locality where its nightly visits used to be of continual occurrence. Many of these 
depredators were shot, caught in traps, or otherwise destroyed, and suffered a poetical 
justice in furnishing a meal for those at whose plone they had often feasted. The flesh 
of this rather ungainly animal is said to be far from unpleasant, and to have some 
resemblance to veal. 
The traps in which these nocturnal robbers are caught are baited with flesh of some 
kind, generally with butcher's offal, for the animal is a very voracious one, and is always 
sensitive to such attractions. Like the Tasmanian wolf-—to which animal it is closely 
allied—it is in the habit of prowling along the sea-shore in search of the ordinary coast- 
loving molluscs and crustaceans, or in hopes of making a more generous feast on the 
dead carcases which the tides will sometimes leave upon the beach. In captivity it will 
eat, almost any kind of food, and is found to thrive well wpon bread and milk, with 
an occasional addition of meat. When it is indulged in the latter delicacy it speedily 
tears in pieces the meat with which it is furnished, and is in nowise baffled by the 
presence of moderately sized bones, which it can crack with wonderful ease by means of 
its strong teeth and powerful jaws. 
The great power of its jaws, backed by its unreasoning ferocity, which seems to be 
literally ‘incapable of comprehending the feeling of fear, renders it extremely formidable 
when attacked. Indeed, there are hardly any dogs, however strong and well-trained they 
may be, which can boast of a victory gained over a Tasmanian Devil in single fight. 
It is rather a productive animal, “the number of its family beimg from four to five at a 
birth. The habitations of this species is ascertained to be made in the depths of the 
forests, concealed as far as possible from the light of day, which grievously affects the eyes 
of this, as of all other strictly nocturnal animals. 
The pain which is caused to the creature by the unwelcome brilliancy of ordinary 
daylight is constantly indicated by the ceaseless movements of the nictitating membrane 
over the eyeball, even when the animal is shrouded in the comparative dimness of a 
straw-filled den, and shades itself from the glare by crouching in the darkest corner of 
its cage. 
Aided by the strong fossorial claws of the fore-feet, the Tasmanian Devil digs for itself 
a deep burrow in the ground, or, taking advantage of some natural hollow or crevice, 
shapes the interior to suit its own purposes. The hinder feet are made in a manner 
similar to those of the bear, and, like that animal, the Tasmanian Devil is able to sit erect 
upon its hinder quarters, and to convey food to its mouth by means of its fore-paws, 
which it uses in a very adroit manner. 
