144 DESCRIPTION OF WOMBAT CHAP. 
Sub-Fam. 3. Phascolomyinae.—Phascolomys, the Wombat, is 
the only genus of this sub-family. This animal has the appearance 
of a heavily-built Marmot, like which it has a mere stump for a 
tail, and a pair of strong chisel-shaped and Rodent-like incisors, 
which, however, differ from those of Rodents in having a complete 
coating of cement. All the teeth of the animal are rootless, and 
there are no canines. The incisors have enamel on the front and 
lateral faces only. The dental formula is 1+ C°® Pm1iM4#. The 
affinities with other Diprotodont Marsupials are shown by the 
commencing syndactyly of the second and third toes. The 
Fic. 71.—Wombat. Phascolomys wombat. x 7s. 
rhinarium is naked or hairy. There is a rudimentary cheek- 
pouch, as in Phascolarctos. The Wombat has, like the 
Koala, and also the Beaver—which does away with some of the 
value of the comparison—a peculiar gland-patch in the 
stomach, a raised area of collected glands. In no other Marsupial 
is such a structure found, “whilst in the two forms under con- 
sideration its identity is almost precise. That such a unique 
structure should have been independently developed in two forms 
unrelated to each. other, appears to me to be in the highest degree 
improbable.” This is Mr. Forbes’ opinion. It might be strength- 
ened by adding the observation that, as there are other points of 
likeness between the Wombat and the Koala, it seems more unlikely 
that a structure so nearly identical should have been twice 
