368 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



its most distinctive features are the soft and silky character of its brownish hair, and its longer 

 and more pointed ears. The coarseness of the hair of the Tasmanian species has been 

 previously referred to ; in colour it is most usually a dark greyish brown, while the ears are 

 small and rounded. 



The flesh of the wombat is somewhat esteemed for food, being regarded by some as equal 

 to pork, and much resembling it in flavour. The predilection of tame specimens for milk is 

 very strong, and it has been recorded of one animal that it was not only in the habit of 

 seeking out the milk-pans and pushing off the covers in order to drink the contents, but 

 afterwards of taking a bath in what was left. 



A remarkable habit has been accredited to the wombat which invites scientific 

 investigation. It is said to be capable of sustaining life for an abnormally long period 



under water, and that when 

 in the course of its travels it 

 meets with a pond or river 

 it does not attempt to swim, 

 but, deliberately entering the 

 water, walks along the bottom, 

 and so emerges on the opposite 

 bank. 



The animals of Australia 

 living in not very remote 

 geological times included a 

 near ally of the wombat 

 which equalled a tapir in 

 dimensions. 



THE BANDICOOTS 



The Australian BANDI- 

 COOTS not to be confounded 

 with their namesake of India, 

 which is a big rat constitute 

 a very distinct little family 

 group. They number in all some eight or nine species, distributed throughout the length 

 and breadth of Australia and Tasmania, and found also in New Guinea. The largest member 

 is about the size of a rabbit ; and as its general shape, long ears, and soft silky hair impart 

 some slight resemblance to that rodent, it is commonly known as the RABBIT-BANDICOOT. With 

 the above-enumerated points, however, the likeness ceases its possession of a moderately 

 long tail, pointed snout, and feet modified on a plan closely resembling those of the 

 kangaroo's indicating its essentially distinct nature. In a second variety, having somewhat 

 the same external contour, but smaller in size, the fore limbs are very short, and the 

 feet so modified that only two toes are visible externally. With reference to this peculiar 

 feature, it is known as the PlG-FOOTED BANDICOOT. In a third kind of similar dimensions, 

 with harsh brown fur, the ears are comparatively short, and the snout is so abnormally 

 prolonged that it has been appropriately named the LONG-NOSED BANDICOOT. Superficially, 

 in point of fact, this and other allied species so closely resemble certain of the long-snouted 

 insectivorous mammals, such as the Tenrec and Solenodon, that they might be excusably 

 mistaken by the non-scientific for members of the same group. The bandicoots are chiefly 

 nocturnal, and at all events incorrigible " sun-downers," turning up for their meals when 

 the evening shadows fall, and taking a heavy and unwelcome toll of the farmers' potatoes, 

 beets, or other root crops. Like the wombat, already described, they are earth-burrowers. Some 

 of them, however, construct nests above-ground in long coarse grass or low tangled shrubs, 

 which are so ingeniously built in accord with their environment as to readily escape detection. 



Photo kf E. Landtr 



HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT 



A form peculiar to South Australia 



