Marsupials and Monotremes 



373 



most inaccessible mountain districts. The colour-markings of 

 this animal are somewhat striking, the grey-brown tints which 

 characterise the ground-hues of tlie 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 relativelv small member of the <i . .-,i 

 same flxmily described later on as the Banded Ant-eater. /V'V'^ 



Examples of the Tasmanian wolf have frequently lieen on ^■'-i'-e''' 

 view at the liegent's Park (iardens, 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 l-:eeper, though, owing to its somewhat im[)erfect sense 

 of visioir during the daytime, it was apt to snap somewhat 

 promiscuously at those attempting to cultivate its close ac- 

 quaintanceship. That a bite fronr its formidable teeth is not 

 to be lightly risked will be made abundantly apparent by a 

 glance at the successful 3'awning piose j'l'Otograph secured of 

 this example by IMr. Medland, and here reproduced. Although tlie 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 Tatagonia. This circumstance, taken in conjunc- 

 tion with the fact that many other fossil types with Australian and New Zealand affinities 

 have lieen 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. 



P/io(o hii L. MnUaad, F.Z..-i., Xurlh Fiiirldeij. 



TASMA.NIAN WOLF. 



This iibritograph shows the f^reat width of 



gape of this ferocious animal. 



The Tasmanian Devil. 



Next in size to the thylacine, but possessing a more unenviable notoriety for the 

 uncompromising sulkiness and 

 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 p)aws 

 being well adapted to its 

 burrowing habits. There is 

 some slight vai-iation in the 

 colours of this marsupial 

 ApoUyon; and, as the 



[S'lrllc Fiachley. 



TASMANIAN WOLF. 

 In this iiliotogiaph are shown nearly all the chief cbavacteiistic points of the Tasmanian wolf. 



