DASYURUS, THYLACINUS. FAMILY PERAMELIDJE. 347 



Their form, too, is more decidedly carnivorous ; the individual 

 teeth being by no means unlike those of the Dog. The limbs 

 are short, robust, and clumsy ; and the toes, five on the fore-feet, 

 and four on the hind, are armed with sharp claws, which the 

 animal can use for burrowing, as well as for seizing its prey. Its 

 voice is a hollow barking growl. When in captivity, it displays 

 no quality but a stupid ferocity, and seems ready to bite at the 

 least irritation; it does not appear in the least influenced by 

 kind treatment, not even showing any recognition of its keepers, 

 or of those who habitually feed it. In other species of this 

 genus, there is a stronger resemblance to the Dog and "Weasel, 

 and greater activity in the habits. The Thylacinus, also a native 

 of Van Diemen's Land, has the stature and habits of a Wolf; 

 and would prove a very destructive animal, if it were not for its 

 rarity. It inhabits the caverns and fissures of the rocks, in the deep 

 and almost impenetrable glens of the highest mountains ; and, 

 like many others of this group, it is nocturnal in its habits. It 

 seems to have the power of over-mastering all the native quadru- 

 peds of Australia, managing to eat even the Echidna or porcu- 

 pine ant-eater; and it is very destructive to the sheep in its 

 neighbourhood. Owing to its back being crossed by a regular 

 series of black stripes, it has received from the Colonists the 

 names of Zebra- Wolf and Zebra- Opossum ; and has also been 

 called the Tiger and Hyaena. 



311. The animals of the next family, PERAMELIDJE, or the 

 Bandicoot tribe, are evidently analogous to the Insectivora, and 

 take the place in Australia of the Shrews, Tenrecs, &c. of the 

 Old World. In number of teeth, they approach the Opossums, 

 but have only six instead of eight incisors in the lower jaw ; 

 the form of the teeth, however, is more decidedly insectivorous. 

 The general form of the Bandicoots is Rabbit-like, the hind 

 legs being much longer than the fore, and the gait being inter- 

 mediate between running and jumping ; moreover they 

 resemble Rabbits in the use they make of their fore-paws in 

 burrowing, and in holding their food, when they sit up on 

 their haunches. The form of the muzzle, however, is different ; 

 for this is elongated, narrow, and pointed, the nose advancing 



