2l6 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



eyelids, a semicircular area just behind the muzzle, 



and the underside of the tail dull flesh tint. The 



fur in the centre of the forehead was scanty and 



somewhat furrowed, as if a half-hearted attempt had 



been made to part it with a comb ; any person 



attempting such a task would probably have had 



several fingers amputated free of cost. The body 



fur was quite sleek and glossy, shorter than the tail 



hairs, and recalled the pelt of a black cat. The 



insteps of both fore and hind feet were but sparsely 



haired, and the under surface of the tail was naked. 



The fur of the tail was rough and staring, not neatly 



smoothed down ; however, one would never suppose 



the Tasmanian devil to be proud of his personal 



appearance ! The ears were fringed with a border 



of very fine hairs, and shell-like in contour, the 



inferior fourth of the pinna being delicately scalloped 



along the border. A spray of tactile hairs adorned 



each cheek. 



In spite of statements to the contrary, the present 

 species is not so strictly nocturnal as might be 

 supposed. It will bask in the sunshine, lying flat on 

 its stomach with its throat on the ground, fore legs 

 extended before it, and hind legs stretched out 

 behind ; there is no ceremony with this son of the 

 bush. An individual moving about during the 

 daytime stood shivering (apparently quite voluntarily) 

 silent, and dim-sighted ; the tail was held out 

 behind, just clear of the ground. The animal 



