7V//; BMXAT n.YiM; rn\i. \\HKK. 



n-adn-d tin- a|H-iture. In- 'hi- tree sharply one.- or t-w ice with tin- Kick of tin- hatchet, 8O 



M to ....'>"..-.:.. u i ;. 1 1 - -.. Md to the blow, tin |K>siti<ui of tin inimal within tiM 



ln)llo\\. !! th.-ii rapidly cut.s a hole through the tree into tin- ca\it\. -. i/^-s tin- concealed 

 animal by its tail, j.-rks it out U-fore it haw time to use it-* daus or t.-eth, dashes it against tin- 

 tree, and drops it on the ground dead. 



It i^ rather n-markaMi-. that the creature will not emerge from ite concealment when 

 :iwaki-u--d by tli.- s,, iiml nf the axe so near it* presence, and b not even induced by tin- quick 

 janitiir <>f tin- wooden walls of its habitation to attempt escape from imminent danger. Tin- 

 precaution of jerking the creature quickly from its <l.>micil.- is most necessary, for the strong. 

 sharp, and iim-d claws of tin- animal an- formidable wea]ons when the m-atm.- is disposed 

 to use till-in for c.ml>at. and. to^-th.-r with its sharp teeth, can inflict terrible laceration upon 

 ite foe. It is of a sntlicii-ntly pugnacious disposition, and when it is enraged is a desperate 

 tighter with t-eth ami da.\s. 



The flesh of the Tainan is said to I* very good, and as the animal is a tolerably large one, 

 it is a favorite article of <lii'; among the \\hiti- and Mack inhabitants of the country. It is, 

 however, SO extremely difficult of capture, that, without the assistance i,f native aid, the white 

 men would s,.ldom IM- able to make a dinner on this creature. But as travellers or hunters an- 

 generally accumpjini*^! by one or more "black fellows," they an- well supplied with Tagiuins 

 b\ the ipiick e\e and ready hand of their sable allies. 



In color the Taguan is extrenu-h variable, but the general arrangement of its color is as 

 follows : 



The back is of a rather deep biackish-brown, darker or lighter in different individuals. 

 the feet and muzzle atv nearly black, and the under surface of the Ixxly and membrane is 

 w hit>. The up]>er surface of the parachute membrane is rather grizzld, on account of the 

 variegated tints of black and gray with which the hairs are anniilated. Many varieties, how 

 PVW, of color exist in the animal, and there are hardly any two Hjn-cimeiis in which the tints 

 are precisely alike. The brown hue of the fur is in some examples d'-.-|-ned intoa rich black 

 briiwn : others are almost entirely gray on the upper surface of the body and parachute mem 

 brane : while s]>ciinens of a beautiful white are not of very unfrequent occurrence. In all 

 cases, however, the fur of the under portions, and inner faces of the limbs, preserves its 

 w hite hue. 



The whole of the fur is extremely long. Ix-ing no less than two indies in length on the 

 back. It is very soft and silken in texture, and is remarkably loose and glossy, so tliat it 

 waves in the air at every movement of the animal, or at the touch of every breath of wind 

 that may stir the atmosphere. On the tail the hair is remarkably long and bushy, and 

 gradually deepens in color from a pale brown at the base to a dark, blackish-brown at 



the tip. 



The animal is found inhabiting the vast forest ranges that run from Port Philip to 

 M. neton Hay. and is .seldom, if ever, found in any jiart of the country except in the eastern 

 I southeastern districts of New South Wales. 



The food of the Taguan consists of leaves, buds, and the young shoots of trees, dii. -tly 

 of the eucalypti, which it eats only during the hours of night. It seldom troubles itself to 

 descend to the ground, for it can easily juis-s from one tree to another by iinans of tin- won- 

 derful apparatus with which it is gifted, but when it does come to earth, prowls about in 

 search of some vegetation that may afford an agreeable variety to the too uniform diet of 

 leaves and buds. 



TIIK Hi i N\ !!". "i- <;KKAT PI/VINO PHAI. \N.I i:. is rather a remarkable animal in 



appearance. It is an inhabitant of New Holland, and is found in tolerable plenty about Port 

 .lacks. in and Botany Bay. 



The color of the Hepoona Roo is rather variable, but is generally as follows. The upi-r 

 part of the lxdy is brown, tinged with gray, and a much darker brown stri]- runs along the 

 coiirs*- of the spin.-. The head is darker than the general hue of tht Ixxly. and on the top of 

 the head the brown tint is warmed bv the admixture of hairs of a fawn color. The under 



