202 



THE PREDACEOUS MARSUPIALS. 



which the animal inspired, even though it is 

 by no means a large species, measuring only 

 about 28 inches from the tip of its snout to 

 the root of its tail, which is about 12 inches 

 in length. 



The Tasmanian devil is an ugly animal, 

 with a thick head, blunt snout, compact body, 

 short, stoutly-built legs, and moderately long 



tail. Its coarse hide is quite black except 

 for a white stripe on the breast. Its formid- 

 able dentition comprises forty-two teeth, all 

 of which are distinguished by their massive 

 form. They are emphatically the teeth of 

 a beast of prey. The strong canines are 

 sharp-pointed, the two premolars conical. 

 Behind the first three molars, which are 



genuine carnassials, there follows in the upper 

 jaw a smaller tubercled tooth, while in the 

 lower jaw the four molars are three-lobed 

 and have a cutting edge. No bone can 

 withstand these terrible shears. 



The jaws of the Tasmanian Wolf ( Thyla- 

 cinus cynocephalus), fig. 256, are armed in the 

 same manner; but there is an additional pre- 

 molar, and consequently the total number of 

 the teeth is brought up to forty-six. The gen- 

 eral habit of this largest beast of prey among 

 the still surviving marsupials resembles that 

 of a dog with a long body and rather short 

 legs. The head has the profile of a grey- 

 hound's, with erect ears and very wide mouth. 



Fig. 256. -The Tasmanian Wolf [Thylacinus cynocephalus). 



The length of the animal is rather more than 

 3 feet, exclusive of the tail, which is about 

 half that length. The tail is round and 

 tapers to a point. The hair is short and far 

 from thick, the colour a brownish-gray on 

 the back, rather lighter underneath. From 

 twelve to fourteen black transverse stripes 

 extend from the back down the sides. 



The animal inhabits Tasmania, and leads 

 a nocturnal life. It is very sensitive to light. 

 Formerly it was spread over the whole island 

 and devastated the sheep-flocks of the settlers, 

 who called it "the striped wolf." 1 At the 



1 This name, I am informed, is no longer used, the only names 

 now given to the animal in Tasmania being the "native ticer" or 

 "native hyaena."- ' n - 



-Tr. 



