6o 



KNOWLEDGE & vSCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[April, 1904. 



Metatherian group carries its new-born young in an 

 abdominal pouch. It is also at once distinguishable from 

 a wolf by its long, tapering, and thinly-haired tail, as is 

 well shown in our picture, and by the curious transverse 

 stripes on the bark, wliich are very prominent in the 

 living animal. 



The Thylacine is a native of Tasmania, and is not 

 found in any other part of the world, although in a former 

 geological epoch an allied form, which has been named 

 Thylacinus speUnis by Professor Owen, existed in the 

 adjacent parts of Australia. In Tasmania the Thylacine 



is the only specimen of the Thylacine now alive in 

 P-urope. 



The first living Thylacines ever received by the Zoo- 

 logical Society were a young pair presented by their 

 Corresponding Member, Mr. Roland Gunn, of Launces- 

 ton, in 1849. They had been captured in snares on the 

 upper branches of St. Patrick's River, about thirty miles 

 N.E. of Launceston, and lived many years in the Regent's 

 Park. The same generous friend, learning that these 

 animals were no longer alive, sent a second pair in 1863, 

 which likewise did well in the Society's Gardens. Thyla- 



Tlie Thylacine {Tliyhimiin ninurf-luiliis). 



is said to be popularly known as the " tiger " or 

 " hyaena," from its rapacious habits, but is also often 

 called, more appropriately, the " Tasmanian wolf." 



In former days, when Tasmania was first peopled by 

 luiropeans, the Thylacine was common in all the rocky 

 and mountainous districts of the island, and at that time 

 found an abundant supply of food in the native kangaroos 

 and bandicoots. But when sheep were introduced into 

 the Colony, and bred in large numbers, the Thylacine 

 soon learned to attack the sheepfolds, and consecjuently 

 became an object of persecution to the Tasmanian shep- 

 herds, whose fierce hostility has now brought it to the 

 verge of extinction. Of late years, indeed, very few 

 living specimens of it have reached Europe, and the 

 Zoological Society is fortunate in having secured the fine 

 young male example now figured, which was obtained 

 by purchase in March, 1902. So far as 1 know, this 



cines in captivity are very active in their mo\'ements 

 when excited, but somewhat nocturnal in their habits. 

 They are usuall)' fed on nuitton. 



>^ "^i -"^ ^^ "^i 



Blake's Historica.1 Cha-rts. 



Mh. ^\"ILLI.\^r Pii.AKK h.is compiled a series of Historical 

 Charts, designed to show in a sort of bird's-eye view the 

 course of Enslish IIistor\- in different year periods. Chart 

 No. I. gives a general vieu of English History from 1066 to 

 igoa. Chart No. H., intended to be used with the other 

 Charts, and a most useful supplement to them, gives contem- 

 porary European rulers from 1066 to igo2. Succeeding 

 Charts cover various pliases of English History from the 

 Roman Dominion in Britain to the reign of Queen Victoria. 

 The Charts have been very carefully compiled at the cost of 

 immense labour, and are designed for the use both of students 

 and teachers. 



