784 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



p^v 



6 



GENET. 



SURICATE. 



BLACK-BACKED JACKAL. 



Recently we were able to secure, for the first 

 time, two fine, large male and female examples 

 of the Australian Wombat, (Phascolomys mitch- 

 elli). These animals are of marked interest in 

 adding a type of development among the Marsu- 

 pials that hitherto had been lacking in the col- 

 lection. 



In bodily bulk the Wombat almost equals the 

 peccary. In structure and habits it resembles 

 the larger rodents, and in general appearance it 

 looks like a much exaggerated woodchuck. Like 

 the woodchuck, it lives in burrows in rocky 

 ground, feeds mostly upon roots, and in devour- 

 ing such food the rodent-like structure of the 

 incisor teeth is revealed. Our specimens are ap- 

 parently good-natured and lazy, but as yet have 

 not had time to become fully accustomed to their 

 new quarters. 



Another important marsupial in the Small- 

 Mammal House is the Tasmanian Devil. The 

 accompanying illustrations shows the stout build 

 of this animal, and also its rather forbidding 

 appearance. It is of carnivorous habit, and its 

 sinitser name is derived from its rather savage 

 temper and its black pelage. While this animal 

 is alleged to be nocturnal, our specimen is active 

 during the greater part of the day. It prefers, 

 however, to eat at night, and if its food is thrown 

 into the cage during the afternoon, it lays un- 

 touched until after dark. In keeping with the 

 feeding habits of this and other nocturnal mam- 

 mals, its food is not placed in its cage until the 

 keepers are ready to leave for the night. With 

 this custom in force, the night-prowling animals 

 find their food quite fresh at the time they feel 

 inclined to consume it. 



With the animals mentioned, a series of Opos- 

 sums in the Small-Mammal House and several 

 large Kangaroos in the Small-Deer House, the 

 Order Marsupialia is fairly represented. Three 

 species of Opossums are exhibited, namely: the 

 Virginia, Mexican and the Murine. One of our 

 Virginia Opossums is busy in rearing a litter 

 of twelve young. 



The Order Carnivora is elaborately repre- 

 sented in the Small-Mammal House. Among re- 

 cent additions are an Indian Marbled Cat (Felis 

 marmoratus), and a Malayan Jungle Cat, (F. 

 planiccps). The latter species is characterized 

 by a flattened head and much elongated canine 

 teeth, the latter feature resembling the dentition 

 of the Clouded Leopard, which is exhibited in a 

 nearby cage. 



