31 



collection, is a native of Van Diemen's Land, where 

 it inhabits amoDg the caverns and rocks in the high 

 and almost impenetrable glens of the mountainous 

 parts of that country : it is the largest carniverous 

 animal yet discovered in New Holland, measuring 

 from the nose to the end of the tail five feet three 

 inches ; it is said to be extremely voracious, which 

 will scarcely be doubted, when it is known that the 

 one described in the ninth volume of the Linnaean 

 Transactions, p. 179, had in its stomach the partly 

 digested remains of the Porcupine Ant-eater ; it is 

 said to have a short gutteral cry, and appeared ex- 

 ceedingly inactive and stupid, 



15. Pigmy Opossum (Didelphis Pygmaea). 

 This is the least of all the Opossums ; is not 

 larger than a common mouse : it is a native of 

 New Holland. 



WOMBAT. 



The Wombat is a native of New Holland. A living 

 one was brought to this country by Mr. Brown, 

 librarian to the Linnaian Society, who went as a 

 naturalist with Capt. Flinders, on his voyage of dis- 

 covery ; it lived in a domesticated state for two years 

 in the possession of Everard Home, Esq. to whom, in 

 a paper read to the Royal Society, June 23, 1808, 

 we are indebted for the following observations :— ■" It 

 F2 



