WOMBATS. 



265 



SKELETON OF WOMBAT. 



are of nearly equal length, but the second and third are relatively slender and 

 partially united by skin, thus foreshadowing the "syndactylism" of the two fore- 

 going families. The most distinctive feature of the wombats is, however, their 

 dentition. The teeth, twenty-four in number, all grow uninterruptedly throughout 

 life, and thus never develop roots. The incisors are reduced to a single pair in 

 each jaw, these being exceed- 

 ingly powerful chisel - shaped 

 teeth, with enamel only on their 

 front surfaces, thus resembling 

 the incisors of Rodents. The 

 cheek-teeth arc rive on each 

 side, of which the first is a 

 premolar, and separated by a 

 long interval from the incisor. 

 Each molar is much curved, and 

 consists of two triangular prisms; 



but the premolar comprises but one such prism. It will thus be evident that, so far 

 as their teeth are concerned, the wombats simulate the Rodents, to many of which 

 thej T also approximate in habits. In general appearance these Marsupials are 

 however, curiously like diminutive bears, as shown in the illustration on p. 266. 



Of the three species of the genus, the smallest is the Tasmanian wombat 

 (P. ursinvs), inhabiting Tasmania and the islands in Bass St rait. It is characterised 

 by its small and somewhat rounded ears, the naked extremity of the muzzle, and the 

 coai"se and rough hair; the colour being uniform dark grizzled greyish brown. About 

 one-fourth larger than this species is the common wombat (P. m/itchetti), from New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, in which the length of the head and body 

 is about 30 inches, while the colour may vary from yellow, through yellow mingled 

 with black, to nearly pure black. The third species is the hairy-nosed wombat (P. 

 Idtifrons). from South Australia, intermediate in size between the other two, from 

 which it differs by its longer and more pointed ears, hairy muzzle, and soft silk}- hair. 

 All the three species seem to agree in their habits, and are 

 exclusively herbivorous, living either in burrows excavated by them- 

 selves, or in clefts and crannies of rocks. Like most Marsupials, the}' are 

 exclusively nocturnal ; and their food consists of grass, other herbage, and roots. 

 They walk with a peculiar shuffling gait ; and utter either a hissing sound or a 

 short grant when irritated. In disposition they are shy and gentle ; although their 

 powerful incisor teeth are capable of inflicting severe bites. On the rare occasions 

 that these animals are seen abroad in the daytime, they sutler themselves to be 

 caught with ease, and often make no resistance after their capture. 



Habits. 



The Bandicoots. 



Family PERAMELID.E. 



All the members of the preceding families are characterised by the presence of 

 not more than three pairs of upper incisor teeth, and also by those of the lower jaw 



