356 



The Living Animals of the World 



attacks of enemies by mimicking the character- 

 istic peculiarities of its environment, as obtains- 

 so generally among insects and other of the 

 lower orders of animated nature. A closely 

 analogous sleeping attitude, it may be mentioned., 

 is assumed by one of the African lemurs or 

 pottos, which have been dealt with in a previous- 

 chapter. 



Although in captivity the koala takes- 

 kindly to a mixed diet in which bread-and-milk 

 and fruit may form substantial elements, it 

 can rarely be induced to altogether dispense 

 with its customary gum-leaf regimen, and it 

 is this circumstance that mainly accounts for 

 its rarity in European menageries. Time and 

 again, however, this interesting animal has put 

 in an appearance at the Eegent's Park ; but 

 in spite of Kew Gardens arid other sources- 

 being laid under contribution for a supply of 

 gum-tree leaves, its sojourn there has been but 

 brief. As a matter of fact, the common or 

 blue gum-tree, which is alone cultivated and 

 available in any quantity in this country, and 

 which is indigenous to Tasmania, is not the 

 species on which the koala is accustomed to 

 feed. Of gum-trees there are some hundred 

 species, every one differing in the peculiarity 

 of its aromatic s<3ent and flavour, and having 

 its special clientele among the ranks of leaf- 

 browsing animals. So far as the writer's obser- 

 vations extended, it was the big Queensland 



" white " and " swamp " gurns that were especially patronised by the Australian bears, and these 

 are not grown in England. 



Although at first sight, and normally so far as the younger individuals are concerned, the 

 koala would appear to represent the most perfect embodiment of peace and goodwill among 

 mammals, he is accredited at a maturer age, when crossed in love or goaded to resentment 

 by some other cause, to give way to fits of ungovernable rage. These temporary lapses are,, 

 however, very transient, and our little friend soon recovers his customary bland placidity. 

 While it is being threshed out, nevertheless, the " burden of song " delivered by rival claimants 

 for a partner's favours is a remarkable phenomenon. The circumstance that the vocal duet 

 is commonly executed high up among the branches of the loftiest gums no doubt adds very 

 considerably to both the timbre of the " music " and the distance to which it is carried. 

 The old-time phrase of "making the welkin ring" would undoubtedly have been applied with 

 alacrity and singular appropriateness by the poets of the departed century to the love-song of 

 the koala, had they been privileged to hear it. 



Among the examples of the koala which have been in residence at the Zoo, one of 

 them came to a pathetic end. As told to the writer by Mr. A. D. Bartlett, the late 

 superintendent, it appears that the little animal, on exhibition in the gardens during the 

 day, was brought into the house at night, and allowed the run of a room which, among other 

 furniture, included a large swing looking-glass. One morning the little creature was found 

 crushed to death beneath the mirror, upon which it had apparently climbed and over-balanced. 

 The information that the animal was a female evoked the suspicion that personal vanity and 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea. 



KOALA, OB AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BEAR. 



The koala has no tail, and is a stout, clumsily built animal, about 

 32 inches in length, with thick woolly fur of a greyish colour. 



