146 ILARSUPLALLA 
species, all of whieh are included in the one genus Phascolonus, 
and all of which date from the Pleistocene. 
In the typical group we find the following characters, luv 
rough and coarse, Kars short and rounded. Mufile naked. Post- 
orbital process of the frontal bone obsolete. Ribs fifteen pars. 
Vertebre: G7,D15,L 4,8 4, 10-12. The Wombat of Tas- 
mania and the islands of Bass’s Straits (2) wrsivus) and the closely 
similar but larger animal of the southern portion of the mainland of 
Australia (2. witchelli) belong to this group. 
In the second group the characters are as follows. Fur smooth 
and silky. Ears large and more pointed.  Mutlle hairy. Frontal 
region of skull broader than ino the other group, with well- 
marked postorbital processes. Ribs thirteen.  Vertehre: C7, D 
13, Lb 6,8 4, C 15-16. One species, 2. latifrons, the Hairy -nosed 
Wombat of Southern Australia, 
In their general form and actions the Wombats resemble small 
bears, having a somewhat similar shallling manner of walking, but 
they are still shorter in the legs, and have broader, latter backs Chan 
bears. They live entirely on the ground, or in burrows or holes 
among voeks, never climbing trees, and feed entirely on) grass, 
roots, and other vegetable substances. ‘They sleep during the day, 
and wander forth at might in search of food, and are shy and 
gentle in their habits generally, though they can bite strongly when 
provoked. The only noise the common Wombat makes is a low 
kind of hissing, but the Hairy-nosed Wombat is said to emit a short 
quick grunt when annoyed. The prevailing colour of the last- 
named species, as well as of 7. vesieus of Tasmania, is a brownish 
gray. The large wombat of the mainlund is very variable in colour, 
some individuals being found of a pale yellowish brown, others 
dark gray, and some quite black. The length of head and body is 
about three fect. 
It is noteworthy that Po mitehelli was first’ described) from the 
evidence of fossil remains, the living form subsequently deseribed as 
P. platyrhinus being found to be indistingnishable. Other extinet 
species oceur in the Pleistocene of Austratia. 
Phaseolones.$—Rennins of a large extinet Wombat, whieh must 
have nearly equalled the dimensions of a ‘Tapir, occur in the 
Pleistocene of Queensland, and have been described as Phaseolonis, 
It is probable that the expanded and thittened upper incisors from 
the same deposits upon the evidence of which the presumed genus 
Neceparnodon was founded, are likewise referable to the same form, 
The characters of both the upper and lower incisors distingnish 
Phaseolonus from Phescolomys, ; 
TOwen, Phil, Trans, IST, p. 257, 
