WOMBAT. 



367 



size of a squirrel, nearly black behind and bright brown in front, the whole body ele- 

 gantly 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 



if; PJ^I FMjEj; M^= 5 , 



The Wombat (Phascolomys * Wombat] might almost be mistaken for a larrc 

 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 quadruped, such as a rat ; its head is large, with the upper part 



'''' 





FIG. 407. WOMBAT. 



flattened ; 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 Marsupialta are very few in number : some of 

 them, however, are formidable from their strength and ferocity. 



The Zebra Wolf, or Native Tiger of the Australian colonists ( Thylaclnus t 

 tynoccphalus J, equals a large dog in size and strength, specimens having been found 

 four feet in length, besides the tail, which is two more. It is nocturnal, like most 



0ao-/;wXos, phascolos, a pouch ; /tus, mus, a mouse. f fli/.Wos, thylacos, a pouch ; 

 , kyon, a dog. J KVWV, KVVOS, kyon, kynos, a dog; Ke<pa\ri, cephale, a head. 



