28 



THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAMMALS 



There are three species of Wombat (Fig. 4) generally 

 recognised, one of which is confined to Tasmania ; they are 

 clumsy-looking animals, resembling in their form and 

 actions small bears. They never climb trees, but live 

 entirely on the ground or in burrows and holes, feeding on 

 grass, roots, and other vegetable substances. In general 1 

 structure the Wombats are closely allied to the next 



Fig. 4. — The Common Wombat. 

 ( Phaseolomys m itchelli. ) 



family, the Phalangers, although their exclusively terrestriaj 

 habits naturally involve minor points of difference, which, 

 added to the characters presented by their dentition, hav{' 

 induced naturalists to recognise them as a separat 

 family. 



The Phalangers (Phalangcridte), which next follow, are 

 a much more extensively developed group of animals 

 presenting us with several well-marked generic forms 



