Till: /. I \HKlt HAM>U'(>OT. 



The creature seems to I** remarkably sensitive to cold, considering the severe weather 

 which often reigns in it.** native country. It is fond of ha\. which it .-hops into short pleoea 

 with its knife-edged teeth. 'Hi- natives say that if a Wombat is making a journey, and 

 hap|>ens to come aero-.., a river, it is not in the least dis-..mlit*d. but walks deliberately int.. 

 the fix.i. across the bed of the stream, and, emerging on the opposite bank, continues its 

 course a.s . almlv as if no im] linn nt had tx>en placed in it* i\ 



The t.i-th of ih>- \Vonikit present a curious resemblance to those of the rodent animals, 

 and are endowed with tin* same (towers of reproduction as those of the bearer and other ani- 

 mals of the 1. 1. The feet of the Wombat are broad, and the fore-feet are provided 

 with v.-ry strong claws, that are formed for 

 diiririnir in th.- earth. There are five toes to 

 ,..., h foot, bill the thunb ol the hind. ; '-' is 

 iii.-ly small, and d.-void of a claw. This 

 animal is remarkable for jK.ssessin^ fifteen 

 jxiirs of ribs in on sixteen (Miirs of 

 ribs were found only six pairs of which 

 reach the breast-bone. Remains of a fossil 

 species of \\oinkithavelteen discovered in 

 .\.-x\ Holland, together with the relics of an ^-^m^W" - 



allied and ^iipintic -.].., ,,>. which, when H^59r H^^ (L*-*-**f^ 



li\im,'. must nearly have equalled the hip- 

 popotamus in dimensions. 



TMK H\MI< OOT, txvo examples of which 

 will l>e der rilied in these (>ages, form a 

 little group of animals that are easily 

 recognizable by means of their nit-like 

 aspect, and a certain peculiar, but inde- 

 scribable mode of carrying themselves. 

 The gait of the Bandicoot is very singular, 

 being a kind of mixture between jumping 

 and mnning. which is the result of the for- 

 mation of the leu's and feet. During progres- 

 sion, the back of the creature is considerably 

 arched. The snout is much lengthened and 

 rither sharply pointed, and the second and 

 third toes of the hinder feet are conjoined as LONU-NOBKIJ iiAM)icoor.-ftw< K*. 



far as the claws. The pouch open backwards. 



The BANDED BANDICOOT, or STRIPED-BACKED BANDICOOT, derives its name from the pecu- 

 liar marking of its fur. 



The geiienil color of its coat is a blackish-yellow, as if produced by alternate hairs, the 

 black tint predominating on the back and the yellow on the sides. Over the hinder quarters 

 are drawn some boldly marked black lines, which, when viewed from behind, form a singular 

 and rather pleasing pattern, the dark stripes being made more conspicuous by bands of whitish- 

 yellow. Th. marks continue as far as the root of the tail, and a single, narrow dark lin- 

 runs along the whole upper ride of the tail, which is of the same color as the body. The fur 

 is rather light upon the head, and the under parts of the body, together with the feet, are 

 whit.-, sliirhtly titu:**d with gray. 



This animal is very widely spread over the eastern and south-eastern parts of Australia, 

 but is mostly found in the interior. It specially loves the stony ridges that are so common 

 in its native land, and although not very often seen by casual travellers, js of v.-ry fn^uent 

 occurrence. Its pace is very swift, and its gait is said to bear some resemblance to that of the 

 pig. Its food is of both kinds, and consists of insects and their larvje, and of various roots and 

 seeds. Its flesh is held in some repute by natives and colonists. 



