THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 



individuals takes the form of a semilunar band, and in others is contracted to a mere 

 spot. Generally, another white mark is found to extend saddlewise across the end of the 

 spine, just before the insertion of the tail. This mark is also susceptible of great varia- 

 tion, being of considerable dimensions in some specimens, and extremely small in others. 

 Now and then a white streak or patch is seen upon the shoulders, but in many 

 individuals the shoulders are of equal blackness with the remainder of the body. Be- 

 hind the eyes is a tuft of very long hairs, and another similar tuft is placed immediately 

 above them. 



As might be presumed from the heavy make of its body, and the thickset shortness 

 of its limbs, the animal is not at all brisk or lively in its movements, and seldom displays 

 much energy except when under the influence of the easily-excited irascibility for which 

 it is so widely renowned. The head is short and thickly made, the muzzle very blunt, 

 and the mouth wide. The gait of the animal is plantigrade, and its movements are in 

 general dull and sluggish. 



The length of this animal is about twenty-one inches, exclusive of the tail, which 

 measures about seven inches in length, and is moderately well covered with fur. 



Despite of its comparatively small size, this creature is hardly less destructive than 

 the Tasmanian wolf, and in the earlier days of the colonists wrought sad havoc among 

 the sheep and poultry, especially among the latter. In those days it swarmed in great 

 numbers, but it is now nearely extirpated out of some districts, and is so persecuted by 

 the righteous vengeance of the farmers, that a solitary specimen can scarcely now be 

 seen in the locality where its nightly visits used to be of continual occurrence. Many 

 of these depredators were shot, caught in traps, or otherwise destroyed, and suffered a 

 poetical justice in furnishing a meal for those at whose expense they had often feasted. 

 The flesh of this rather ungainly animal is said to be far from unpleasant, and to have 

 some resemblance to veal. 



The traps in which these nocturnal robbers are caught are baited with flesh of some 

 kind, generally with butchers' offal, for the animal is a very voracious one, and is 

 always sensitive to such attractions. Like the Tasmanian wolf to which animal it is 

 closely allied it is in the habit of prowling along the sea-shore in search of the ordinary 

 coast-loving molluscs and crustaceans, or in hopes of making a more generous feast 

 on the dead carcasses which the tides will sometimes leave upon the beach. In 

 captivity it will eat almost any kind of food, and is found to thrive well upon bread 

 and milk, with an occasional addition of flesh. When it is indulged in the latter 

 delicacy it speedily tears in pieces the meat with which it is furnished, and is in 

 nowise baffled by the presence of moderately sized bones, which it can crack with 

 wonderful ease by means of its strong teeth and powerful jaws. 



The great power of its jaws, backed by its unreasoning ferocity, which seems to be 

 literally incapable of comprehending the feeling of fear, renders it extremely for- 

 midable when attacked. Indeed, there are hardly any dogs, however strong and well- 

 trained they may be, which can boast of a victory gained over a Tasmanian Devil in 

 single fight. 



It is rather a productive animal, the number of its family being from four to five at a 

 birth. The habitations of this species is ascertained to be made in the depths of the 

 forests, concealed as far as possible from the light of day, which grievously affects the 

 eyes of this, as of all other strictly nocturnal animals. 



The pain which is caused to the creature by the unwelcome brilliancy of ordinary 

 daylight is constantly indicated by the ceaseless movements of the nictitating membrane 

 over the eyeball, even when the animal is shrouded in the comparative dimness of a 

 straw-filled den, and shades itself from the glare by crouching in the darkest corner 

 of its cage. 



Aided by the strong fossorial claws of the fore-feet, the Tasmanian Devil digs for itself 

 a deep burrow in the ground, or, taking advantage of some natural hollow or crevice, 

 shapes the interior to suit its own purposes. The hinder feet are made in a manner 

 similar to those of the bear, and, like that animal, the Tasmanian Devil is able to sit 

 erect upon its hinder quarters, and to convey food to its mouth by means of its fore- 

 paws, which it uses in a very adroit manner. 



