Mr. Home's Account , &c. 
3 ° 5 
me some years ago by Lieut. Colonel Paterson, Lieutenant- 
Governor of New South Wales. The natives call it the koala 
wombat ; it inhabits the forests of New Holland, about fifty 
or sixty miles to the south-west of Port Jackson, and was first 
brought to Port Jackson in August, 1 803. It is commonly 
about two feet long and one high, in the girth about one foot 
and a half ; it is covered with fine soft fur, lead coloured on 
the back, and white on the belly. The ears are short, erect, 
and pointed ; the eyes generally ruminating, sometimes fiery 
and menacing ; it bears no small resemblance to the bear in 
the fore part of its body ; it has no tail ; its posture for the 
most part is sitting. 
The New Hollanders eat the flesh of this animal, and there- 
fore readily join in the pursuit of it ; they examine with won- 
derful rapidity and minuteness the branches of the loftiest 
gum trees ; upon discovering the koala, they climb the tree 
in which it is seen with as much ease and expedition, as an 
European would mount a tolerably high ladder. Having 
reached the branches, which are sometimes forty or fifty feet 
fr^m the ground, they follow the animal to the extremity of a 
bough, and either kill it with the tomahawk, or take it alive. 
The koala feeds upon the tender shoots of the blue gum tree, 
being more particularly fond of this than of any other food ; 
it rests during the day on the tops of these trees, feeding at 
its ease, or sleeping. In the night it descends and prowls 
about, scratching up the ground in search of some particular 
roots ; it seems to creep rather than walk : when incensed 
or hungry, it utters a long shrill yell and assumes a fierce 
and menacing look. They are found in pairs, and the young 
is carried by the mother on its shoulders. This animal 
R r 
MDCCCVIII. 
