590 



THE POUCtTED ANIMALS. 



of Martens it would invade the poultry-yards, and 

 massacre with a bloodthirstiness equaled only by 

 that exhibited by one of the Weasel tribe. It there- 

 fore became an object of general execration and 

 vindictive pursuit from the very outset, the more so 

 as its flesh was found to be savory, or at least eat- 

 able. Traps of all kinds were put out, and thus it 

 came about that it also soon learned to know and 

 fear the reign and intelligence of Man, and retreated 

 to the densest and least accessible forests in the 

 mountains. In many localities it has already been 

 exterminated, and even where it still exists, it is now 

 seen but rarely. It is a genuine nocturnal animal, 

 and as shy of daylight as the Pouched Dog or one 

 of the Owl-tribe. 



on the head than on the body. A mature animal 

 attains a body length of sixteen inches, with a tail 

 twelve inches long, the height at the withers being 

 six inches. The members of the species are dis- 

 tributed over New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia and Tasmania. 



The Spotted Dasyure delights in forests along 

 the sea coast. By day it hides in burrows under 

 trees and stones or in hollow trunks. After night- 

 fall it prowls far around in its search for food. It 

 feeds principally on dead animals cast ashore by 

 the sea, but preys also on smaller mammals or birds 

 nesting on the ground in the woods, not even dis- 

 daining iij.sects. The number of young ranges be- 

 tween four and six. The Dasyure is pursued with as 



ZEBRA-WOLF OE POUCHED DOG. This animal, the largest of the Carnivorous Marsupials, makes its home in the interior of Tas- 

 mania, mostly in the mountain districts. It bears a great resemblance, superficially, to the Dog, but differs in dentition and the stripings of the 

 coat and is a typical Pouched Animal. ( Thylacinus cynocefhalus .) 



THE DASYURES. 



The Dasyures, sometimes called the Brush-tailed 

 Opossums {Dasyurus), constitute a distinct genus. 

 In their appearance they partake of the character of 

 both Foxes and Martens, without, however, showing 

 a striking resemblance to either of them. The body 

 is slender and elongated, the neck comparatively 

 long, the head pointed in front. The tail is long, 

 non-prehensile and covered with thick, bushy hair; 

 the legs are short and of medium stoutness, the 

 hind limbs being somewhat longer than the fore 

 pair, and the hind feet distinguished by the lack of 

 a great toe; the toes are separated and armed with 

 strong, curved, pointed claws. 



Habitat and Char- One of the best known species, the 

 act^r of the Spotted Spotted 'Dasyure {Dasyurus viverri- 

 Daayure. nus), is usually of a fallow brown 



hue, although some individuals are lighter; the lower 

 parts of the body are white. The entire upper sur- 

 face is studded with irregular, white spots, smaller 



much pertinacity as are the preceding predaceous 

 Pouched Animals. It is frequently caught in great 

 numbers in steel traps baited with some kind of 

 animal food. It is not to be recommended as a pet, 

 for it is one of the most uninteresting of creatures. 



THE BANDED ANT-EATER. 



The Banded Ant-eater {Myrmecobius fasciatus) is 

 the only representative of the second sub-family of 

 the predaceous Pouched Animals {Myrm.ecobiinm). 

 Its body is long, the head very pointed, the hinder 

 feet four-toed, the fore feet five-toed, the hinder legs 

 somewhat longer than the fore legs, the soles bare, 

 the toes separated. The tail is non-prehensile, long 

 and shaggy. The female has' no pouch. The great 

 number of teeth is notable, being greater than that 

 of any other mammal, and ranging from fifty to 

 fifty-four. 



The Ant-eater is justly considered to be one of the 

 handsomest and most striking in appearance of any 



