IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 169 



(232) THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. 



(SARCOPHILUS URSINUS-i?. Cnv ) 



Form bearlike ; has a large head ; muzzle short and broad ; ears 

 rounded ; the prevailing colour of the body black. 

 Hab.~— Tasmania. 



Length of life in captivity. 



One lived for about three months, and another for about a year. 

 The former never recovered from the effect of the long sea voyage ; the 

 latter died from disease of the liver, which was very much enlarged — 

 almost six times its normal size. Although provided with good accom- 

 modation, it never took the least exercise, and although occasionally 

 tempted with live fowls and rabbits, it never attempted to kill any. It 

 touched not a morsel of food for about a fortnight before its death. 



(233) THE COMMON WOMBAT. 



(PHASCOLOMYS WOMBAT— Per. et Less) 



Fur coarse; ears short and rounded; muffle naked. 

 Hab. — Tasmania. 



(234) THE HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT. 

 (PHASCOLOMYS LATIFRONS— Owen.) 



Fur smooth and silky ; ears large and pointed ; muffle hairy. 

 Hab. —South Australia. 



In general appearance the wombats look like small bears, with 

 very short legs, or like exaggerated marmots. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 Specimens have been living since 1889. 



Treatment in health. 



Mousing. — Avoid damp and wet; a brick floor to their shed is 

 necessary, as otherwise they will burrow out immediately, but it may 

 be thickly covered with sandy earth. It is better for their health if 

 they can be let out every day to forage for themselves within a grassy 

 enclosure, as it compels them to take more exercise than they otherwise 

 would. The experiment, however, failed, owing to their persistent habit 

 of burrowing out under the fencing. They were once tried in an 

 enclosure with a brick wall, of which the deep foundation, it was 

 thought, would prevent their burrowing out, but as one of them some- 

 how managed to drown itself in the small tank inside it, the survivors 

 were removed. 



Food. — Grass and leaves; a small quantity of grain every morning, 

 and sometimes biscuits. 



