MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES 337 
most inaccessible mountain districts. The colour-markings of 
this animal are somewhat striking, the grey-brown tints which 
characterise the ground-hues of the body and limbs being 
varied by a series of dark bands traversing the buttocks, these 
being widest in this region, and continued forwards to the 
middle of the back. A somewhat similar cross-stripe pattern 
of ornamentation occurs in the relatively small member of the 
same family described later on as the Banded Ant-eater. 
Examples of the Tasmanian wolf have frequently been on 
view at the Regent’s Park Gardens, a very fine young male 
specimen being at present located in the marsupial section. 
Within a few weeks of its arrival it was on excellent terms 
with its keeper, though, owing to its somewhat imperfect sense 
of vision during the daytime, it was apt to snap somewhat 
promiscuously at those attempting to cultivate its close ac- 
quaintanceship. That a bite from its formidable teeth is not TASMAN TEN Oe : 
to be lightly risked will be made abundantly apparent by a mh sare a en A oe ot 
glance at the successful yawning pose photograph secured of — 
this example by Mr. Medland, and here reproduced. Although the thylacine is at the 
present time entirely limited in its distribution to Tasmania, it occurs in the fossil state 
on the Australian mainland; while, singularly to relate, the remains of a closely allied form 
have within recent years been unearthed in Patagonia. This circumstance, taken in conjunc- 
tion with the fact that many other fossil types with Australian and New Zealand affinities 
have been discovered in the same South American strata, has strengthened the supposition 
maintained by many zoologists that in bygone ages a vast Antarctic continent, spreading 
through the areas now occupied by the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans, temporarily united 
the now distinct lands of South America and Australasia. 
Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S. 
THE TASMANIAN DEVIL 
Next in size to the thylacine, but possessing a more unenviable notoriety for the 
uncompromising sulkinessand 
savagery of its disposition, 
is the animal which, in virtue 
of the aforesaid qualities, is 
known by the title of the 
TASMANIAN DEVIL. In shape 
and dimensions this marsupial 
carnivore somewhat resembles 
a badger; but the head is 
abnormally large,the masseter 
muscles which control the 
action of the powerful jaws 
monopolising a very consider- 
able share of the face area. 
The limbs are short and also 
very powerful, the front paws 
ey being well adapted to its 
iy ibe 4 _ burrowing habits. There is 
2 Sat some slight variation in the 
TASMANIAN WOLF colours of this marsupial 
In this photograph are shown nearly all the chief characteristic points of the Tasmanian wolf Apollyon; and, as the 
id 
Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S. 
