EXISTING SPECIES OF THE GENUS PHASCOLOMYS. 
It is many years ago since the King Island wombat was exter- 
minated. When the island was visited by a party of the \ictorian 
Field Naturalists Club in 1887, no trace of it was discovered nor, 
during the process of clearing the land that has been vigorously 
carried on during recent years, has any record of a living wombat 
been made. 
Flinders Island afforded the only prospect of securing a living 
specimen of the Bass Strait species, and in the hope of finding that 
the animal had not been completely exterminated there one of us 
(J. A. Kershaw) took advantage of a trip organized by the Aus- 
tralasian Ornithologists’ Union to visit the island in November, 1908. 
A considerable part of the north, north-east, and north-west coast 
line was examined, and abundant evidence was obtained to prove 
that the animal, though very rare and difficult to obtain, was not 
extinct. In the deserted hut of a half-caste native at Killiecrankie 
two skins were found. On the extreme north end of the island an 
incomplete skeleton, including a skull with the skin still attached to 
it, was secured, and part of another skin on the north-east coast. 
On the island there are, in addition to a few settlers, a number of 
half-castes, or rather the much-mixed offspring of whites, Austra- 
lian, and Tasmanian aborigines. The existence of the wombat is 
well-known to them, but it is by no means easy to secure. During 
the three days spent in searching no living animal was seen, and all 
that could be done was to make arrangements to have one sent to 
Melbourne when captured. On Cape Barren Island, where most of 
the half-castes live on the native reserve, the animal was found to 
be quite extinct, though well-known under the name of “ badger,” 
the common term “ wombat ” not being known there. 
Though not successful in obtaining a living specimen, Mr. Ker- 
shaw’s visit was the means of proving that the animal is still extant, 
and in addition to the sub-fossil remains from King Island we now 
possess also recent remains, including skins from Flinders Island. 
In January, 1909, Dr. J. W. Barrett organized a trip to the islands, 
and kindly invited Mr. Kershaw to join the party, with the object of 
searching again for the animal. Once more, owing to the very 
limited time available, the search proved fruitless, but we are 
much indebted to Dr. Barrett for his cordial co-operation. 
At the present time the matter stands thus : Evidence of the 
existence of a wombat is forthcoming in regard to King Island on 
the west side of Bass Strait, and Deal, Flinders, Barren, and Clarke 
Islands on the eastern side. Those of King, Deal, and Flinders 
Islands are specifically identical, and it may be taken for granted, 
as already said, that the same species inhabited Barren and Clarke 
Islands. The animal is now extinct everywhere except on Flinders 
Island. 
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