WOMBATS. 
265 
are of nearly equal length, but the second and third are relatively slender and 
partially united by skin, thus foreshadowing the “ syndactylism ” of the two fore¬ 
going families. The most distinctive feature of the wombats is, however, their 
dentition. The teeth, twenty-four in number, all grow uninterruptedly throughout 
life, and thus never develop roots. The incisors are reduced to a single pair in 
each jaw, these being exceed¬ 
ingly powerful chisel - shaped 
teeth, with enamel only on their 
front surfaces, thus resembling 
the incisors of Rodents. The 
cheek - teeth are five on each 
side, of which the first is a 
premolar, and separated by a 
long interval from the incisor. 
Each molar is much curved, and 
consists of two triangular prisms; 
but the premolar comprises but one such prism. It will thus be evident that, so far 
as their teeth are concerned, the wombats simulate the Rodents, to many of which 
they also approximate in habits. In general appearance these Marsupials are 
however, curiously like diminutive bears, as shown in the illustration on p. 266. 
Of the three species of the genus, the smallest is the Tasmanian wombat 
(P. ursinus), inhabiting Tasmania and the islands in Bass Strait. It is characterised 
by its small and somewhat rounded ears, the naked extremity of the muzzle, and the 
coarse and rough hair; the colour being uniform dark grizzled greyish brown. About 
one-fourth larger than this species is the common wombat (P. mitchelli), from New 
South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, in which the length of the head and body 
is about 30 inches, while the colour may vary from yellow, through yellow mingled 
with black, to nearly pure black. The third species is the hairy-nosed wombat (P. 
latifrons), from South Australia, intermediate in size between the other two, from 
which it differs by its longer and more pointed ears, hairy muzzle, and soft silky hair. 
All the three species seem to agree in their habits, and are 
Habits 0 
exclusively herbivorous, living either in burrows excavated by them¬ 
selves, or in clefts and crannies of rocks. Like most Marsupials, they are 
exclusively nocturnal; and their food consists of grass, other herbage, and roots. 
They walk with a peculiar shuffling gait; and utter either a hissing sound or a 
short grunt when irritated. In disposition they are shy and gentle; although their 
powerful incisor teeth are capable of inflicting severe bites. On the rare occasions 
that these animals are seen abroad in the daytime, they suffer themselves to be 
caught with ease, and often make no resistance after their capture. 
The Bandicoots. 
Family PERAMELIDM. 
All the members of the preceding families are characterised by the presence of 
not more than three pairs of upper incisor teeth, and also by those of the lower jaw 
