270 MR. G. F. ANGAS ON PHASCOLOMYS LATIFRONS. [JuilC 25, 



to the face an expression slightly resembling the "Koala" {Phascol- 

 arctos cinereus) ; whereas the P. latifrons presents a bold, bull-dog- 

 like aspect from the greater expansion of his face and width of 

 nostrils ; the tail is naked and rudimentary ; the feet are black, as 

 are the hairs of the fur covering them above ; the claws are black, 

 and are longer and more powerful than those of P. latifrons. The 

 general aspect of P. wombat is more bear-like than that of P. lati- 

 frons. In standing it arches its back considerably, and does not hold 

 its head so erect as the latter animal ; the expression of the eye, too, 

 is decidedly fierce, and lacks the good-natured twinkle of the South 

 Australian species. Next to the form of the skull, one of the most 

 striking specific differences manifests itself in the colour, character, 

 and texture of the fur ; in sleeping it rolls itself almost into a ball, 

 burying its nose between its fore-paws. The measurements I made 

 of the adult male of the P. wombat are as follows : — 



in. lin. 



Extreme length 33 



Length of head 9 



Breadth between tips of ears 6 9 



Breadth between eyes 3 



Length of ears 2 



Girth round centre of body 29 6 



Height, middle of back 15 



The specimen of P. latifrons in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens 

 is the only one I have yet seen. It was caught some twelve months 

 since near the Gawler River, about thirty miles north of Adelaide. 

 It is kept in an enclosure, where it is secured with a strong chain and 

 collar to prevent its escape by burrowing ; it is perfectly docile, and 

 never attempts to bite, like the Common Wombat ; it is fed artifi- 

 cially on bran and weeds, and drinks freely of water. The only 

 sound it emits is a short quick grunt when annoyed ; it sleeps a 

 good deal during the day, and appears impatient of heat and rain, 

 as in its wild state it is entirely a burrowing animal, living in large 

 holes in the limestone districts, and only leaving its habitation towards 

 dusk for the purpose of obtaining food. The specimen in the Gar- 

 dens is fond of lying on its back like a bear, the feet are thoroughly 

 plantigrade, and on the inner hind toe the claw is quite rudimentary. 

 He will burrow 3 or 4 feet into the soft ground of his enclosure, and 

 scratches alternately with his fore paws. When worried he will turn 

 his hind quarters to the enemy, and, suddenly turning round, make 

 a charge at his legs, evidently for the purpose of throwing him 

 down ; otherwise he is perfectly harmless. He runs fast for a short 

 distance in a sort of gallop, but soon tires, and is easily caught. 

 Although in some parts of the colony, especially on Yorke's Penin- 

 sula and about Port Lincoln, the holes of these Wombats are very 

 numerous, yet the animals are but rarely seen. Many of the oldest 

 colonists have informed me that they never saw a Wombat alive. 

 The blacks on the Murray describe two kinds of Wombats, one (evi- 



