POUCHED QUADRUPEDS. 



479 



hind and bright brown in front, the whole body elegantly crossed by 

 cream-coloured bands. It has a greater number of teeth than any 

 other Mammal, except some of the Dolphins and Armadillos. They 

 are thus arranged : 



~; C 



1 - 1 

 1 - 1 



FM 



4-4 

 5 - 5 ; 



M 



4-4 

 4 - 4 



= 52 



The Wombat (Pliascolomys * Wombat} might almost be mistaken 

 for a large Guinea-pig, but its shape is more clumsy and massive ; it 

 is found scattered over the whole southern part of New Holland and 

 Van Dieman's Land. Its teeth resemble those of a gnawing quad- 



/*" 



/ 



FIG. 407. WOMBAT. 



ruped, such as the rat ; its head is large, with the upper part flat- 

 tened ; the eyes are very small ; the ears short and pointed, and the 

 nostrils wide apart. The limbs are short ; the feet broad and naked 

 beneath. The claws are large and solid ; those of the fore feet but 

 slightly curved, and formed for digging. It lives entirely upon 

 roots and vegetables, and its flesh is described as being excellent. 

 It is of considerable size, attaining the length of three feet ; it is 

 therefore a valuable animal, and might be worth naturalizing in this 

 country. This could probably be effected without any difficulty, 

 specimens brought to Europe having lived for several years in a state 

 of domestication. 



The carnivorous Marsupialia are very few in num- 



* $a<7/co>Ao<, phascolos, a pouch ; juOs, mus, a mousi. 



