THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 387 
The animal is a very conspicuous one, on account of the peculiar coloring of its fur and 
the brightly defined stripes which decorate its back. 
The general tint of the fur is a grayish-brown, washed with yellow, each hair being brown 
at its base and yellow towards the point. Along the back runs a series of boldly defined 
stripes, nearly black in their color, beginning just behind the shoulders and ending upon the 
base of the tail. The number of these stripes is various, being from fourteen to seventeen on 
an average. At the spot where they commence they are very short, but lengthen rapidly as 
they approach the tail, reaching their greatest length over the haunches, over which they are 
drawn to some extent. In many specimens the stripes are forked upon the haunches. 
Towards the tail the stripes again become short, and upon the base of the tail are so abbreviated 
that they only cover its upper surface. The under parts of the body are gray. The tail is 
slightly compressed, and gradually tapers to its extremity. The eyes are large and full, and 
their color is black. The edge of the upper lip is white. 
TASMANIAN DEVIL.—Diabolus ursinus. 
In this animal the marsupial bones are absent, their places being indicated by some fibrous 
cartilages that are found in the locality which these bones might be expected to fill. The 
character of the fur is not very fine, but it is short, rather woolly, and closely set upon the 
animal’s skin. In front of the eye there is a small black patch, which runs round the eye, 
and surrounds it with a dark line. 
As may be imagined, from the very expressive name which has been appropriated to the 
animal which is represented in the engraving, its character is not of the most amiable, nor its 
appearance the most inviting. 
Few animals have deserved theirspopular titles better than the creature to whom the first 
colonists of Van Diemen’s Land unanimously gave the name of Narrve Devry. The innate 
and apparently ineradicable ferocity of the creature can hardly be conceived except by those 
who have had personal experience of its demeanor. Even in captivity its sullen and purpose 
less anger is continually excited, and the animal appears to be more obtuse to kindness than 
any other creature of whom we have practical knowledge. Generally, a eaged animal soon 
learns to recognize its keeper, and to welcome the hand that supplies it with food; but the 
TASMANIAN Devin seems to be diabolically devoid of gratitude, and attacks indiscriminately 
every being that approaches it. 
I have frequently had opportunities of testing the character of this curious animal, and 
