ne ~
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63
1
36 a6 :
Tuatr a member of the genus Cuscus should be found in the extreme north-east of the Australian continent |
is not surprising, from the contiguity of New Guinea and the adjacent islands, where various members of
Ys
the genus abound. It will be seen, by the synonyms given above, that when I described this animal, I
a
6
regarded it as a Phalangista, and gave it the name of Phalangista (Pseudocheirus) nudicaudata ; now, as all |
3.
oJ
the Cuscz have the extremity of the tail denuded of hairs, this specific appellation is certainly inappropriate,
and I have therefore adopted that of dreveaudatus, proposed for it by Dr. Gray.
When speaking of the objects observed near Port Albany, Mr. Macgillivray says,—-‘‘The natives one
YY.
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6
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> day brought down to us a live Opossum, quite tame and very gentle. It turned out to be a new species, and
has since been described by Mr. Gould under the name of Pseudocheirus nudicaudatus ;’
t
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>
and this, unfortu-
BERENE
uately, is all we know of the natural history of this pretty animal.
“ Dr. Gray, in his ‘‘ Observations on the Genus Cuscws,” published in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological
B Society of London’ for the year 1858, says,—‘‘ This species ” (the Cuscus brevicaudatus) ‘is very like the ashy
variety of Cuscus maculatus, but the front lower cutting-teeth are much broader, and the tail is consider-
E ably shorter than any of the specimens of the C. maculatus contained in the British Museum collection. |
E “The light mark on the rump is common to all the species of Cuscus, and is probably produced by the
habit of the animal sitting on that part of the body, rolled up into a ball, on the fork of the branches of |
C3
y.
Qa
~ Pee erro
36
a tree.”
Head, all the upper surface, the sides of the body, and the outer sides of the limbs brownish grey; the
5 tips of the hairs with a silky appearance ; under surface of the neck and body and the inner sides of the
limbs pale buff; the colouring of the upper and under surface distinctly defined on the sides of the body,
but gradually blending on the limbs, the rump, and root of the tail, which is thickly clothed on its basal third, |
and naked for the remainder of its length; hands, feet, and naked portion of the tail -pinky flesh-colour. NI | | |
86
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ws2
inches.
Te?
8
86
Length from tip of nose to root of tail .
Ofetail 5
of fore-feet, including the nails .
of hind-feet, including the nails
6
29
3
6
99
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3
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—
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The animal is figured in two positions, of the size of life; at the same time, it must be mentioned that
it is believed to be immature, and not more than two-thirds of the size it would be when adult.
36:
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PETAURISTA TAGUANOIDES, Desm.
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Great Flying Phalanger.
6
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Petaurus Taguanoides, Desm. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxv. p. 400.—Waterh. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Mamm.,
vol. xi. (Marsupialia) p. 283. pl. 27.
Petaurista Taguanoides, Desm. Mamm., pt. 1. p. 269.— Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 84.
N86
Petaurista Peronu, Desm. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxv. p. 400. Nt
36
Petaurus Peronti, Benn. Cat. of Australian Museum, Sydney, p. 3. no. 10.
NY,
PS
Petaurus Leucogaster, Mitch. Three Exp. into Eastern Australia, vol. i. p. xvii. ? |
Petaurus (Petaurista) taguanoides, Waterh. Nat. Hist. Mamm., vol. i. p. 322. |
NODS,
36
BE
Tue Great Flying Phalanger is strictly an inhabitant of the extensive brushes which stretch along the south-
eastern and eastern portions of New South Wales, the forests between the mountain ranges and the sea
from Port Philip to Moreton Bay being in fact its native habitat. Strictly nocturnal in its movements, this
‘fine animal secretes itself during the day in hollow trees of the largest growth, and on the approach 6f
evening emerges from its retreat in quest of the newly opened blossoms of the Hucalypt:, in which, together
with the tender buds and shoots of the same trees, it finds a description of food congemial to its well-
being. It passes along the branches with the utmost celerity, and, when necessitated to remove from
£56
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one tree to another, effects its object by leaping from the higher branches, and floating through the air in |
easy and elegant sweeps, its progress being greatly aided by the parachute-like membrane at its sides. |
(BENG
cS
vy,
Although plentiful in the districts above mentioned, examples are not procured without difficulty, owing to
the thickness of the brush or forest; the natives, however, readily detect its retreat by the presence of
a few straggling hairs at the entrance of its hole, or by the impressions made by its sharp claws in the bark,
It is not a little surprising that this very
1 x E54
and having found it speedily cut it out with their hatchets.
singular animal should not have been captured alive and sent to this country, like the smaller members
of the family ; it would be by far the most interesting and attractive: its power of inflicting most severe
lacerations with its sharp teeth and strong hooked claws may be one reason why this has not been done.
At present this is the only well-established species of the genus Petaurista, but I doubt not that others
exist in the extensive forests which stretch along the eastern coast of Australia, and which have as yet been
but imperfectly explored. It is subject to very great variety in the colouring of its fur, some specimens
being entirely blackish brown on the upper surface, while in others it is blackish brown suffused with grey ; WA
others are of a uniform cream colour, and others again quite white : these latter I have always regarded as | | |
mere varieties ; I am not, however, prepared to say that they had red eyes, like true albinos. !
The sexes offer no external difference, except that the female is somewhat smaller than the male.
Fur very long, loose, and soft to the touch, of a brownish black hue on the upper surface and on the
Aemlemnenbrane, and of a browner tint on the head and back of the neck; the flank-membrane is, moreover,
n nearly black ; throat, chest, under side of the body and of the
lite ; the wrists and ankles are, however, black
g36
venir
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pencilled with white; feet, muzzle and chi
flank-membrane, and the inner side of the limbs pale buffy wl
both on the inner as well as on the outer side; the long bairs near and at the posterior margin of the ear
the edge of the ear like a fringe ; tail black or brownish black, almost always
“ce for a considerable distance from the base, sometimes of a
B636
are whitish and project from
paler at the root and along the under surf
yellowish brown, at others of a brownish white. io
The drawing represents the animal rather more than two-thirds of the size of life.
36
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NENCEY.
BELIDEUS FLAVIVENTER.
Long-tailed Belideus.
N
BAN:
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63
Petaurista flaviventer, Desm. Mamm., p. 269.
Didelphis Petaurus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i. p. 496.
Petaurus (Belideus) flaviventer, Waterh. Nat. Lib. Mamm., vol. ix. (Marsupialia), p. 286.
australis, Shaw, Nat. Misc., vol. ii. pl. 60.—List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus. Coll., p. 83. !
WZ
43
N
Didelphys volucella, Meyer, p. 26.
Petaurus Cunningham, Gray, MSS. B.M.
Sciurus Nove-Hollandie, Meyer.
Didelphys macroura, Shaw, Zool. of New Holl., p. 33. pl. xii. young.—Ib. Gen. Zool., vol. i. p. 500. pl. 113. young.
Petaurus macrourus, Waterh. Nat. Lib. Mamm., vol. ix. (Marsupialia), p. 288. young.
084
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Mr. Wareruouse, who has paid considerable attention to the Marsupialia, in speaking of this animal, says,
“The Hepoona Roo of White’s Journal, the original also of Shaw’s Didelphis Petaurus, is still in existence
in the Museum of the College of Surgeons ; it proves to be the present species, and not the P. Taguanoides,
as has always been supposed. This ought therefore to be regarded as the type of Shaw’s genus Petaurus, if
authors are right in attributing that genus to Shaw; but I do not perceive that he ever regarded the
han
6
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animal in question as constituting a genus, or that he applied the name in a generic sense.”
This fine species is common in all the brushes of New South Wales, particularly those which stretch |
along the coast from Port Philip to Moreton Bay. In these vast forests, trees of one kind or another are | |
perpetually flowering, and thus offer a never-failing supply of blossoms upon which the Long-tailed Belideus i
.
feeds; the flowers of the various kinds of gums, some of which are of great magnitude, are the principal
favourites. Like the rest of the genus it is nocturnal in its habits, dwelling in holes and in the spouts of
36
Ma
the larger branches during the day, and displaying the greatest activity at night while running over the
small leafy branches, frequently even to their very extremities, In search of insects and the honey of the
Its structure being ill adapted for terrestrial habits it seldom descends to the
Vid
newly-opened blossoms.
ground, except for the purpose of passing to a tree too distant to be attained by springing from the one it
wishes to leave. The tops of the trees are traversed by this animal with as much ease as the most level
If chased or forced to flight, it ascends to the highest | | Hy
6
y
Vi
k
43
ground is by such as are destined for terra firma.
branch, and performs the most enormous leaps, sweeping from tree to tree with wonderful address ; aslight
=
3
elevation gives its body an impetus, which with the expansion of its membrane enables it to pass to a con-
siderable distance, always ascending a little at the extremity of the leap; by this ascent the animal is _pre-
NENG
vented from receiving the shock which it would otherwise sustain.
It is now very generally believed that the Petaurus macrourus 1s only the young of Pecaurus flaviventer ; I
3
\
63
have therefore placed the former name as a synonym.
yellowish brown; head clouded with black, particularly round the eyes, |
3
General colour either greyish or
at the base of the ear, on the muzzle and chin; a black mark extends from the occiput along the middle of
V
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the back; the fore and hind legs and the side membrane blackish brown ; edge of the membrane and under
surface of the body buff; basal half of the tail yellowish brown, the remainder black.
om
The sexes are alike in colour.
o s a » Ice } € a je ; >
The accompanying Plate represents the animal a trifle less than the natural size.
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BELIDEUS SCIUREUS.
Squirrel-like Belideus.
Didelphys sciurea, Shaw, Zool. of New Holl., pl. xi. p. 29.
Petaurus sciureus, Desm. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., 2nd Edit., tom. xxv. p. 403.
Petaurus (Belideus) sciureus, Waterh. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VI. p. 152.—Nat. Lib. Mamm., vol. ix. (Mar-
suplalia), p. 289. pl. xxviii.—List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus. Coll., p. 83.
Norfolk Island Flying Squirrel, Phillip’s Voy., pl. in p. 151.
Sugar Squirrel, Colonists of New South Wales.
Tuts is not only one of the most elegant and beautiful species of the genus to which it belongs, but is also
one of the commonest animals of the country ; being very generally dispersed over the whole of New South |
Wales, where, in common with other Opossums, it inhabits the large and magnificent gum-trees. Nocturnal |
in its habits, it conceals itself during the day in the hollows and spouts of the trees, where it easily falls a
prey to the natives, who capture it both for the sake of its flesh and its skin, which in some parts of the |
colony they dispose of to the colonists, who occasionally apply it to the same purposes as those to which
the fur of the Chinchilla and other animals is applied in Europe,—the trimming of dresses, boas, &c.
NEN
At night it becomes as active and agile in its motions as it is sluggish and torpid in the daytime. I ob-
served that it prefers those forests which adorn the more open and grassy portions of the country to the
thick brushes near the coast. By expanding the beautiful membrane attached to its sides it has the power
ING
NG
of performing enormous leaps, and of passing from tree to tree without descending to the ground: like
\ \
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other animals provided with a similar means of transit, it slightly ascends at the extremity of its leap, and
4
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3
thereby avoids the shock which a direct contact with the branch upon which it alights would cause it to
sustain.
It is of course marsupial, and I believe produces two young at a time, as I found two animals about half-
re
bE.
grown in the same hole with the adults.
For a beautiful living example of this animal I am indebted to the kindness of my most estimable friend |
to whom it had been sent by her sister Lady Franklin, who procured it from Port Philip.
36
Mrs. Simpkinson,
It has become very tame, and its actions when permitted to run about the apartments are amusing and
attractive in the extreme: the slightest projection affording it support, it passes over the cornices, picture-
the greatest ease; it becomes exceedingly animated at night, leaping from side
R636
36
SS
frames and hangings with
ading its membrane and tail, and repeatedly turning completely over, or performing
Its usual food is sopped bread and milk, upon which it thrives, and HI
| WaT
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6
to side of its cage, spre
several summersaults in succession.
s to be a good substitute for its natural food, which consists of insects, the honey of flowers,
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which appear
and the tender buds and leaves of the Hucalypti.
Fur extremely soft and of moderate length ; general tint of the upper surface ashy grey; a blackish
brown line extends from the nose along the middle of the back nearly to the root of the tail; the upper
surface of the flank membrane, and the anterior and posterior portion of the fore and hind legs black or
: chin, throat, inner side of
brownish black ; just below the ear a brownish black patch; feet dusky grey ;
body white ; under side of the flank membrane dusky ; the margin
somewhat more than the basal half of its length, the remainder |
YINIVINE
the limbs and the under surface of the
fringed with white hairs; tail smoke-grey for
at the base, where they are clothed with a black fur, and the
6
MNT,
4
deep black ; ears nearly naked except
posterior margin which is white ; eyes very full and black.
The figures represent fully adult animals of the natural size on a br
Eucalypti of New South Wales.
8
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anch of one of the commonest of the
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BELIDEUS BREVICEPS, waeern.
Short-headed Belideus.
ANNES
3
Petaurus (Belideus) breviceps, Waterh. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VI. p. 152.—Ib. vol. xi. Nat. Lib. (Marsu-
pialia), p. 290. pl. 29.—Ib. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 334.
Petaurus Peronu, G. Benn. Cat. Aust. Mus., p- ? not of Desmarest. |
PAYA.
Petaurus breviceps, Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 83.
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Tus species of Belideus is not so widely dispersed over New South Wales as the B. Sciureus ; it is in fact
a
a much more local species; judging from the great number of specimens I have seen from Port Philip, I |
B68
presume that district to be its great stronghold. I have two specimens in my collection, sent by Mr.
Strange, one of which is labeled Wollongong, and the other Torrumbong; the former, as is well known,
7
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is the port of the rich district of Illawarra, and I presume the latter to be the name of an adjacent
locality, as both bear the date of June 9. It is a somewhat singular circumstance, that, so far as we yet
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know no exam ple ot this form has been found in Southern or Western Australia nor in Van Diemen’s
5 l ’
Land.
In general appearance this animal closely resembles the B. Sceureus, but differs in being of a smaller size, |
YD
and in having the tail more slender and cylindrical: the head is so much shorter, that the difference is
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readily perceptible in the living or recent animal, and conspicuously so in the denuded crania; it is from
this character that Mr. Waterhouse assigned to it the specific name of drevceps. ay
ORD 5 . . : a
In its habits and general economy there is no marked difference from those of B. Sezwreus ; like that S|
species, it secretes itself in the hollows of trees, and sallies forth in search of food on the approach of |
. ‘ . : . ww oe i , 4
evening, when it becomes exceedingly active, and readily transports itself from tree to tree by means of the raed)
: : : Sli
expanding membrane attached to the sides and limbs. ae)
The accompanying drawing was made from living examples in the possession of Mr. Harrington which SY
had bred and reared two young ones, either in London or during their passage to this country. ~~
In a state of nature its food consists of the tender buds of trees and flowers, honey, and insects; in 2 f
captivity, bread and milk sweetened with sugar forms an excellent substitute for its natural food. a
Fur soft; upper surface ashy grey; a dusky longitudinal line extends from between the eyes along the | | rae
back until lost in the general hue of the rump ; tail dusky grey, rather more than two inches of its apical SS
portion black ; flank-membrane blackish above, white on the edge, this white fringe extending along the ae
hinder part of the arm to the tip of the little finger; upper surface of the arm sooty black ; a dusky mark AR)
C 0 . 5S RODIN Par vie > . et
along the outer side of the legs ; under surface white, greyish white or greyish buff; ears black at the base, mo
. . me
white at the posterior angles. i)
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The figures are of the natural size. Se,
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BELIDEUS NOTATUS, Peters.
Stripe-tailed Belideus.
Petaurus (Belideus) notatus, Peters in Monatsb. der Konig]. Preuss. Akad. der Wissensch. zu Berlin, 1859, p. 14.
I wave been kindly favoured by Dr. W. Peters, the Director of the Royal Museum of Berlin, with the loan of
a little Flying Opossum, to which he has given the name of zo¢atus, and which was procured by M. Gerard
Krefft in the district of Victoria, generally known as Port Phillip.
Dr. Peters had doubtless duly compared this animal with the other members of the genus to which it is
most nearly allied, and satisfied himself that it was distinct from either of them, otherwise I should have
been inclined to regard it as identical with the B. dreviceps of Waterhouse ; but in no specimen of dreviceps
that has come under my notice has the tail presented the peculiar marking which characterizes the
present animal, the organ being rendered conspicuously different from that of every other member of the
genus by the white stripe, bounded on each side by black, which passes down the centre, and by its snow-
white tip; and hence this remarkable deviation from all that has yet come to light certainly deserves to be
figured in a work on the Mammals of Australia.
General colour of the upper surface grey, lightest on the head and back of the neck ; commencing on the
forehead, and continuing down the centre of the head, neck, and back, is a narrow line of sooty black, which
is deepest on the head, and gradually fades into the grey near the root of the tail; a broad sooty-black mark
ing membrane ; the front part of the anterior limbs and the front and
also occupies the upper edge of the fly
k; the ear, and the fur around its base, are black ; sides
hinder part of the posterior limbs are also sooty blac
of the face and all the under surface greyish white; tail grey, deepening into black towards the extremity,
with a broad mark of light grey down the middle portion of the upper surface within the black ; the extreme
tip snow-white.
The figures are of the natural size.
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BELIDEUS ARIEL, Gowa.
Ariel Belideus.
Belidea Ariel, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 11.
Petaurus (Belideus) Ariel, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., p. 336.
Petaurus Ariel, Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 84.
Wor-gi, Aborigines of Port Essington.
Tuts is the smallest and undoubtedly one of the most elegant species of the genus yet discovered : it is as
much smaller in all its proportions than B. dreviceps as that species is smaller than B. sciureus; the tail is
also much more cylindrical, less clothed with fur, and equally or more attenuated than that of B. dreviceps ;
the fur of the upper surface is also lighter and of a more delicate buffy grey, and the under surface either
pale yellow or rich yellowish buff, as represented in the accompanying figure. The native country of this little
animal is the northern portion of Australia; all the specimens I have seen have been sent from Port
Kssington, where Mr. Gilbert states that, previous to the hurricane which visited that colony in 1839, it was
exceedingly abundant, there being scarcely a hollow tree, shed, or hut, uninhabited by one or more pairs,
but since that occurrence it had become exceedingly rare. Commander Ince, R.N., succeeded in bringing
living examples from Port Essington to this country, and it is by his kindness in favouring me with the loan
of his animals that I have been enabled to make the accompanying drawing from life.
In habits, economy and mode of life it assimilates so closely to the species inhabiting the south coast, that
a separate description of them is unnecessary.
General colour of the upper surface pale ashy grey, faintly suffused with yellow ; a narrow black mark
commences between the eyes, runs along the back, and extends nearly to the root of the tail; eyes narrowly
encircled with black, and a black ring surrounds the ear at the base, but is interrupted at the posterior angle
where the hairs are pale yellow; upper surface of the flank membrane blackish, especially near the margin,
which is pale yellow; anterior part of the arm, the wrist, and the posterior part of the hind-leg dusky ;
under surface pale yellow.
The figures are of the natural size.
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ACROBATES PYGM AUS, Des.
Pygmy Acrobates.
Didelphis pygmea, Shaw, Zool. of New Holl., No. 1. pl. 2. p. 5—Ib. Gen. Zool., vol. i. p. 501.
Petaurus pygmaeus, Desm. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat., tom. xxv. p. 405.
Petaurista (Acrobata) pygmea, Desm. Mamm., pt. 1. p. 270.
Petaurus (Acrobata) pygmaeus, Waterh. Nat. Lib., vol. ix. (Marsupialia), p. 293. pl. 30.—Ib. Nat. Hist. of Mamm.,
WOll, i, D: S8O.
Acrobates pygmaeus, Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 83. |
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Tue portion of Australia designated New South Wales is the only part of that great continent in which
Ihave seen this elegant little Opossum; and it would appear that this is its sole habitat. In a letter
recently received from my friend Ronald C. Gunn, Ksq., he informs me that ‘The Acrodates pygmaeus does
‘
3G
not exist in Van Diemen’s Land; nor in fact any of the Flying Opossums; but the Belideus Sciureus ” |
Vi
(B. breviceps ?) “is now not uncommon in the forests a few miles round Launceston: a number of indivi-
a
duals imported from Port Philip in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837, having escaped from confinement, are
3
9
doubtless now breeding.
A
This pretty little animal, the « Opossum Mouse” of the colonists, is very common in every part of New
we
>
South Wales; but from its nocturnal habits, its small size, and from the circumstance of its exclusively |
3
inhabiting the hollow limbs of the larger gum-trees, it rarely comes under the observation of ordinary ra
travellers; it is in fact seen in considerable numbers only by those who really live in the bush, and to their ey
notice it is seldom presented except under extraordinary circumstances, the most frequent of which are the SN c
blowing off of a large limb in which it is concealed: if this occurs in the daytime, the animal, being then We eo
na torpid state, does not make its appearance; but if, as occurred several times during my explorations, | ens)
the limb be thrown upon the traveller’s fire, the little inhabitant is soon driven forth by the heat : occasionally Sal]
as many as four or five are discovered by this means ; it was thus that I obtained the specimens here figured, Sy
as well as numerous others which I kept alive for some time; and a more charming little pet cannot be eo
imagined, an ordinary-sized_pill-box forming a convenient domicile for the tiny creature, in which it lies ae
coiled up during the day, becoming more and more active as night approaches. Its food consists of the Fae)
saccharine matter which is so abundant in the flower-cups of the ever-blossoming Kucalypi:, for which well- So
sweetened bread and milk forms an excellent substitute. The agility it displays among the branches in the HH I ke
night-time is very great; it not only passes over, around and beneath them, oe aided by ne ee eS
attached to the sides and limbs, leaps from one bunch of flowers to another with the greatest facility. Paty
The sexes are alike, but the female is somewhat smaller than her mate. a
Fur short, dense, soft, glossy, and on the upper surface ashy greyish brown; under surface greyish we)
3
white in some, yellowish white in others, this colour extending on to the lower part of the cheeks and the
upper lip; circle surrounding and a space in front of each eye black ; ears dusky towards the fore-part, and
whitish behind; on the inner side of the ear near the apex and on the apical portion spring numerous
7 7 yer 1 Nea? ee Sk ? 7H) 2 a1 1] oe >
long and extremely fine hairs; moustaches numerous, slender, and of a dusky brown ; tail fringed on the
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sides with longer hairs than those clothing its upper and under surfaces.
The figures are of the natural size.
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| DROMICIA GLIRIFORMIS.
Thick-tailed Dromicia.
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Phalangista gliriformis, Bell in Linn. Trans., vol. xvi. [eet] leo ebay
Dromicia gliriformis, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus. Coll. DERCOr
Tur Dromeia gliriformis is nowhere more abundant than in Van Diemen’s Land, particularly the northern
parts of the island; and indeed it is very questionable if it is to be found in any other part of Australia ;
but our present knowledge will not admit of the positive assertion.
| I am sufficiently acquainted with the habits and economy of the Dromicia glhriformis to state that it is
strictly nocturnal animal, and that of all trees it prefers the Banksias, whose numerous blossoms supply it
with a never-ceasing store of food, both of insects and sweets eens
a
ake not, it also feeds upon the
tender buds and spikes of the flowers. During the day it generally slumbers coiled up in some hollow
branch or fissure in the trees, whence if its retreat be discovered it is easily taken by the hand ; this state
of inactivity is totally changed at night, when it runs over the smaller branches and leaps from flower to
flower with the utmost ease and agility. This disposition is just as strongly displayed by it when kept /
in confinement ; being so drowsy during the daytime as to admit of its being handled without evincing the |
least anxiety to escape, while the contrary is the case as soon as night approaches. I have also observed
that during the months of winter it is less active than in the summer ; undergoing in fact a kind of hyber-
nation, somewhat similar, but not to the same extent, as the Dormouse.
That this interesting little animal bears confinement well and contentedly, is proved by the circumstance
4 of the pair from which the accompanying drawing was taken being now alive in the possession of Her Most
Gracious Majesty at Windsor Castle, where they are thriving as well as if they were in their native wilds.
They were brought to this country by the Very Reverend the Archdeacon Marriott, who kindly permitted Wilk
me to make drawings of them for the present work. If any difference is perceptible between examples in
captivity and those in a state of nature, it is that the former are more sluggish in their actions and inclined
to obesity.
Four individuals formed part of the collection in the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, and after living |
there for three years died, apparently without disease and probably from old age; and my most estimable
friend Thomas Bell, Esq., F.R.S., was in possession of living examples for four years, which furnished him
with the materials for a paper on its habits and economy while in confinement, and I take the liberty of
copying the following extract verbatim :—
“Jn their habits they are extremely like the Dormouse, feeding on nuts and other similar food, which
they hold in their fore-paws, using them as hands. They are nocturnal, remaining asleep during the whole
day, or, if disturbed, not easily roused to a state of activity, and coming forth late in the evening, and then
Wt
assuming their natural rapid and vivacious habits; they ran about a small tree which is placed in their | |
cage, using their paws to hold by the branches, and assisting themselves By ihe prehensile val which
is always held in readiness to support them, especially when in a descending attitude. Sometimes the
tail is ‘iron in a reverse direction, turned over the back, and at other times, when the weather is cold,
it is rolled closely up towards the under part and coiled almost een ine thighs. When eating they
sit upon their hind-quarters, holding the food in their fore-paws, which, veal the face, are the only Res
apparently standing out from the ball of fur of which the body seems at that time so be composed. nS
are perfectly harmless and tame, permitting any one to hold and caress them without eve attempting
to bite, but do not evince the least attachment either to persons about them or to each other.” |
Considerable diversity of colour exists in different individuals; in some the upper surface is nearly
1 fine tawny or rufous tint pervades the same parts; and examples are
uniform grey, while in others < ;
constantly met with exhibiting every variety of intermediate shade.
The sexes are very nearly alike in size and colour. a ce
The fur is very soft and thick; all the upper surface ering grey or yelloyash grey, ; \ . = a
predominating on the sides, body, and the face; under surface either greyish white or yellowish white ; 1
7 i -oOmMmiIne’ “plis »*sh-colour
base of the tail similar in colour to the upper surface of the body, but becoming purplish flesh-col
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DROMICIA CONCINNA, Gowa.
Beautiful Dromicia.
Dromicia concinna, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Jan. 14, 1845.
Man-dur'-da, Aborigines of Western Australia.
Tuts pretty little animal is abundantly and very generally distributed over the colony of Swan River. Its
habits being strictly nocturnal, it secretes itself during the day in the hollows and chinks of trees, particu-
larly those of the Caswarine and Banksie ; at night it leaves its retreat for the flowering branches of
shrubby low trees in search of insects and sweets, of which, from the abundance of flowering plants, it easily
obtains a never-ceasing supply.
It becomes very tame in confinement ; spending the daytime in sleep with its body rolled up in the form
of a ball, and on the approach of evening throwing off its drowsiness and becoming animated in the ex-
treme, leaping about from side to side of its cage in chase of insects, of which it is exceedingly fond.
The extent of its range over the continent of Australia, and all minute particulars respecting its habits
and economy, have yet to be ascertained.
The sexes are so similar that they present but little difference either in size or colour; in some speci-
mens the under surface is slightly tinged with buff.
Before the eye a mark of black; all the upper surface, the outer side of the limbs and the tail pale
sandy brown; all the under surface and the inner side of the limbs white; the two colours distinctly
separated, or not blending into each other.
The Plate represents a male and a female, on a branch of a very beautiful species of Melaleuca.
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PHASCOGALE PENICILLATA.
Brush-tailed Phascogale.
Tapoa-tafa, White’s Journ., pl. in p. 281.
Didelphys penicillata, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i. DUG 22 10.0) 2a lem leles anion
Dasywrus penicillatus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus., tom. iil. p. 361.
— Tafa, Geoff., loc. cit.
Phascogale penicillata, Temm. Monogr. de Mamm., tom. i. p. 58.—Skull, pl. vil. fies. 9-12.—Waterh. Nat. Lib.
Mamm., vol. ix. (Marsupialia), p. 136, pl. viii—List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus. Coll., p. 98.
Tapoa-tafa, Aborigines of New South Wales.
Bul-loo-wa, Aborigines of the York district of Western Australia.
Bal-a-ga, Aborigines of Perth.
Bal-la-wa-ra, Aborigines to the north of Perth. |
As several specimens of this animal, contained in a collection lately received from Western Australia, offer
on comparison no difference whatever from others procured im South Australia and New South Wales,
it is evident that the Brush-tailed Phascogale has an unusually wide range of habitat. It probably does |
not extend so far south as the island of Van Diemen’s Land, or northward of the twenty-fifth degree of ral
south latitude. | ‘
The plain and the mountain districts appear to be equally inhabited by it, and from its destructive pro-
pensities is I fear likely to become a pest to the colonists. It has already been known to enter the stores
of the settlers and commit severe depredations whenever they contained anything suited to its palate, and,
whether justly or not I am unable to say, it has also been charged with killing the fowls and chickens
of the hen-roost. In the stomachs of some that were dissected were found the remains of coleopterous |
insects, and what appeared to be a species of fungus. Nocturnal in its habits, it sleeps during the day in
the hollows of decayed trees, from which retreat it emerges on the approach of evening, when it ascends
the trees and displays the greatest activity among the branches. When captured it becomes quite ferocious
and struggles hard to effect its escape, and so severe are the lacerations it inflicts, that even a native can
rarely be induced to put his hand within reach of a living one. It breeds in the hollows of the gum-trees,
but the precise number of its young has not yet been ascertained. The sexes differ but little in size and
colour, but the male is somewhat the largest. The accompanying Plate represents the animal of the size
it is when fully adult. It is necessary to mention this, because much difference exists in the relative size of
specimens sent to this country, many individuals that I have seen not being more than half the size of those
figured, and which is solely attributable to the youthful state of the animal, and not to a difference of
species. It was first figured in White’s “‘ Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales,” a work published in tl
1790, under the name Zapoa-tafa; the specimen there represented is still preserved in the Museum of the ti i |
Royal College of Surgeons, so that we have the clearest evidence of its identity with the animal here Wau
figured.
a The colouring of the Brush-tailed Phascogale may be thus described :—
Face, all the upper surface and the base of the tail grey; chin, throat,
*\ greyish white; a darker grey mark commences at the tip of the nose and extends over ihe forehead
to the nape; the fur is moderately long and loose, that which covers the back and upper surface being
1 grey and brown towards the surface; lengthened black
yper surface; the tail for about four-fifths of its
of the finest black, giving that organ a brush-like
inside of the legs and feet
uniform blue-grey next the body, and grizzlec
hairs are also thinly scattered among the fur of the uy
length from the tip is clothed with long and stiff hairs
tip of the nose flesh-colour; ears purplish, very thinly covered with
appearance, whence its specific name ;
fine hairs.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size they attain when fully adult.
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PHASCOGALE CALURA, Gow. |
Handsome-tailed Phascogale.
Phascogale calura, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p. 104.
Att mammalogists who are acquainted with the Phascogale penicillata will observe that a great similarity
in form exists between that animal and the one here represented, of which a single individual has lately been
forwarded to me from Western Australia, and which I believe to be the only specimen yet transmitted to
Europe. Iam led to consider it one of the most interesting of the Australian mammals lately discovered,
not only from its forming the second species of the genus as now restricted, but from the extreme elegance |
of its form and the chaste but diversified character of its markings. The rich rust-red of the basal half of |
the upper surface of the tail is a very unusual mark in animals of this order. Mr. Gilbert procured the
specimen above-mentioned while staying at the Military Station on William’s River, and he merely says :
‘For this new animal I was indebted to a domestic cat who had captured it in the night. The soldiers
informed me that they had often met with it in the store-room of the Station, but they could give me no
other information respecting it, except that specimens with much larger or more brushy tails were some-
times seen.” The fact of its visiting the stores shows, that in habits and disposition it assimilates as closely
to the P. penccillata as it does in form.
The fur is soft and moderately long ; its general colour is ashy grey externally and grey next the skin ;
under surface of the body white, tinted with cream-colour, which becomes more distinct on the sides ; eyes
surrounded by a narrow ring of black; in front of the eye a blackish patch ; ears sparingly clothed for the
most part with very minute dusky hairs, but at the base, both externally and internally, are some long NA
yellowish hairs; base of the tail for nearly half its length clothed with short hairs of a brilliant rusty red |
colour ; on the apical half of the tail the hairs are long and black, as is also the under surface of the base
to near the root.
The Plate represents the animal, which is now in the British Museum, of the natural size.
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PHASCOGALE LANIGERA, Gowa.
Woolly Phascogale.
A SINGLE specimen of the little Phascogale figured on the accompanying Plate was discovered by Sir ,
Thomas Mitchell, during one of his expeditions into the interior of Australia. This specimen, which is now
in the British Museum, appears to be fully adult. In form it is precisely similar to the Phascogale calura,
but in size and colouring it is very different, being a much smaller animal, and having no trace of the rufous
colouring so conspicuous on the basal portion of the tail of that species. I regret to state that no account
of the habits of this little animal accompanied the specimen.
I am indebted to Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, for permission to figure and describe this new and
interesting addition to the genus Phascogale. The paucity of the information we possess respecting it
affords further evidence of the little we know respecting the smaller animals of the interior of Australia,
an acquaintance with which is rendered all the more difficult of acquisition from the circumstance of the
whole, or nearly the whole of them being nocturnal in their habits.
The fur is soft, and of a character somewhat more woolly than that of P. calura; its general colour
is brown externally and grey next the skin, becoming hoary on the hind-quarters ; under surface of the
body greyish-white ; eyes surrounded by a narrow ring of black; ears sparingly clothed with minute brown
hairs ; fore- and hind-feet white, becoming brownish-grey on the toes; basal portion of the tail brown, like
the body; hairs of the apical half of the tail long and black, as is the under surface of the base to near the Ui |
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ANTECHINUS SWAINSONI.
Swainson’s Antechinus.
Phascogale Swainsonu, Waterh. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. iv. p. 300.
(Antechinus) Swainsonii, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 411.—Gunn, Proc. of Roy. Soc. of
Van Diemen’s Land, vol. i. p. 82.—Zool. of Erebus and Terror, Beasts, pl. 25. fig. 1.
Or the animals comprising the restricted genus Antechinus, the present is the largest and the most darkly
coloured species yet discovered. Van Diemen’s Land, if not its sole habitat, is the country in which it is
usually found, and I believe I am right in stating that up to the present time it has not been obtained
elsewhere.
Mr. Waterhouse, after remarking that this species is of a much darker colour than any of the other
Antechini, and is almost destitute of any grey hue, says, ‘The fur is long and moderately soft, and is of a
deep grey colour next the skin; on the back the hairs are most of them annulated with rusty yellow or
brownish rust-colour, the deeper tint being observable on the hinder parts. The hairs of the hinder parts
of the body are grey, but tipped with yellowish. The tail is clothed throughout with small adpressed
hairs of a dusky-brown colour, and a trifle paler on the under than on the upper surface. The feet are
uniform dusky brown ; the fleshy pads on their under surface are transversely striated, and the remaining
naked portion of each foot is apparently smooth. The muzzle is narrower and more elongated than usual.
The specimen from which the original description was taken measured from the tip of the nose to the root
of the tail 5 inches and 2 lines in length, and its tail was 3 inches and 5 lines long.” But that the
animal attains a larger size is certain, there being an example in the British Museum which is 7 inches in
length, and others of an equal size in the fine collection bequeathed to the town of Liverpool by the late
munificent Earl of Derby.
The figures are of the size of life.
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ANTECHINUS LEUCOPUS, Gray.
White-footed Antechinus.
Phascogale leucopus, Gray in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. x. p- 261.—Ib. List of Spec. of Mamm. in Coll.
Brit. Mus., p. 100.
(Antechinus) leucopus, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 423.
I wave figured this little Opossum as an inhabitant of Van Diemen’s Land on the authority of Dr. Gray.
The specimen from which he took his description is now in the British Museum, and appears to differ
sufficiently from the other members of the group to warrant its being characterized as distinct ; but on
this pomt Mr. Waterhouse remarks,—
“The general tint of this animal is somewhat darker than that of Phascogale albipes; the upper surface
of the tail is almost black, while in the species just mentioned it is greyish, and the ears are smaller.
Beyond these, I can perceive no other points of distinction between the Van Diemen’s Land animal and
the Continental one (P. albipes). Of the former I have seen but one specimen, and I can scarcely satisfy
myself, from such imperfect materials as are before me, that these White-footed Phascogales are specifically
distinct.
‘A small Phascogale is found at King George’s Sound, which agrees very closely with the P. leucopus,
being of the same dark colour, and having the tail black above, or nearly so. Two specimens in Mr. Gould’s
collection, thus resembling the Van Diemen’s Land animal, differ, however, in having the chest of a dusky
grey hue. A specimen from King George’s Sound, and contained in the British Museum collection, differs
in having the colouring less dark, and, indeed, very closely resembling that of Phascogale albipes.
“Fur very soft and rather long ; general colour grey, much suffused with black on the back, and very
finely pencilled with pale yellow, the yellow most distinct on the head and sides of the body; feet and under
parts of the body white ; ears tolerably large, and clothed with minute hairs, for the most part dusky, but
pale at the basal portion of the ear externally ; upper surface of the tail nearly black, under surface dirty
white.
Male.
inches. lines.
“Length from tip of nose to root of tail 4 4
Pee of tall. 0 3 7/
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ANTECHINUS FERRUGINIFRONS, Gow.
Rusty-fronted Antechinus.
Havine received two specimens of this animal direct from Sydney, I have little hesitation in stating New
South Wales to be the true habitat of this new species ; at the same time I am unable to say of what par-
ticular locality it is a native. Its yellowish rust-coloured face, more lengthened muzzle and larger size, at
once distinguish it from Antechinus flavipes and A. unicolor, to both of which it is allied. It also differs from
both in the more slender form and in the white colouring of its feet ; points in which it offers some affinity
to the smaller members of the genus, such as Antechinus fuliginosus, A. albipes, &c. Tn all probability this
modification in the structure of the feet is accompanied by some diversity in the habits or economy of
these slender-footed animals, but this is a point which can only be determined when we are able to
obtain a more intimate knowledge of these singular little quadrupeds than we at present possess.
Fur moderately long and soft; face, head and occiput rusty fawn colour, interspersed with fine
blackish hairs ; general colour of the upper surface and sides of the body pale greyish brown, interspersed
down the back with numerous fine blackish hairs; sides of the face washed with buff; throat and under
surface of the body pale greyish white; all the four feet white ; tail light brown.
Total length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail 72 inches; of the tail 3:1; of the nose to the
2
The figures represent the animal of the size of life.
ear 12 inch; of the ear + an inch ; of the tarsi and toes ¢ of an inch.
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ANTECHINUS UNICOLOR, Gowa.
Dusky Antechinus.
Tus animal is altogether larger and more robust than the Antechinus ferruginifrons, has a broader or
more dilated hind foot, a shorter muzzle, and a more uniform style of colouring, the general tone being a
rusty brown, with a somewhat heightened or brighter rusty hue on the lower part at the back and rump ;
both the fore and hind feet moreover are of a light brown.
Like the 4. ferruginifrons this species is a native of New South Wales. 'The specimens I possess of both
species were in fact received at one time by way of Sydney, without, unfortunately, any particulars as to the
locality in which they had been obtained. Such then is all the information I am able to give respecting Hi ti]
these rare species, of each of which two specimens were transmitted to me. Australia appears to abound
in these small insectivorous animals, as evidenced by the numerous species described and figured in the
present work, and when the forests of that great country are more closely searched, many others will
doubtless be discovered. In its general structure this species must be associated with the broad-footed
section, of which 4. flavipes may be considered a typical example.
Fur moderately soft ; general colour of the upper surface fulvous brown, interspersed with numerous
black hairs ; under surface paler fulvous brown; feet pale brown.
_ Length, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, 9+ inches ; of the tail, 33; from the nose to the
ear, 11; of the ear, + an inch; of the tarsi, 2 of an inch.
The Plate represents two animals of the size of life.
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ANTECHINUS LEUCOGASTER, Gray.
White-bellied Antechinus.
Phascogale leucogaster, Gray, App. to Grey’s Journ., vol. ii. p. 407.
Antechinus leucogaster, Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 99.
Phascogale (Antechinus) leucogaster, Waterh. Nat. Hist of Mamm., p. 417.
“Tus animal so closely resembles the Antechinus flavipes in all its proportions, as well as in the structure
of its skull and teeth, that it is with considerable besitation I describe it as a distinct species. I have seen,
however, several specimens from Western Australia which agree perfectly with the individual from which
Mr. Gray drew up his original description, and which differ from the A. flavipes in having the under parts
of the body white, and little or no rusty yellow on the sides of the body and on the feet. The general tint
of the upper surface likewise differs somewhat, being less grey on the fore parts of the body, and on the
hinder parts rich brown. The feet are brownish white, not unfrequently suffused with brown behind; the
tail is brown above, pale brown beneath, and dusky towards the point.
“A skull removed from a specimen sent me from King George’s Sound by Mr. Neill, differs from a skull
of A. flavipes in the British Museum collection in having the muzzle (and consequently the nasal bones) a
trifle shorter, but the difference is not more than is often found in individuals of the same species, and I
think it by no means improbable that the 4. deucogaster is a local variety of 4. flavipes.”
The above are Mr. Waterhouse’s opinions respecting a Western Australian animal, of which my collection
contains two or three examples obtained at King George’s Sound. TI figure it with the same degree of
doubt as to its specific value that is entertained by Mr. Waterhouse, but I may state that I have seen
hundreds of 4. flavipes from Southern and Eastern Australia, all of which had the feet and under surface of
a deep rusty colour, a hue I have never yet seen in any of the specimens of the Western Australian Antechini.
Fur rather soft, general colour dark brownish grey; the hind quarters tinted with rusty brown ; all the
upper surface beset with numerous fine black hairs; ears sparingly clothed with route pale-coloured hairs ;
under surface greyish white; tail dusky, passing into blackish at the apex ; feet light brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
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os
ANTECHINUS APICALIS.
Freckled Antechinus.
Phascogale apicalis, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. ix. p. 518.
Antechinus apicalis, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus. Coll., p- 99.
Marn-dern, Aborigmes in the neighbourhood of Moore’s River.
Wy-a-lung, Aborigines of Perth.
Dib-bler, Aborigines of King George’s Sound.
Tus animal is very generally distributed over every part of the colony of Western Australia, where it in-
habits trees of various kinds, from the prostrate trunk of the once patriarchal gum of the dense forest to
the living grass-trees of the more open districts. Mr. Gilbert’s notes comprise all that 1s at present known
of its habits, and these I give in his own words :—‘‘ The nest of this animal and the situation in which it is
placed appear to vary in different parts of the country. The aborigines in the neighbourhood of Moore’s
River agree in stating that it is placed in a slight depression of the ground beneath the overhanging
leaves of the Xanthorrhea; on the other hand, the natives around Perth assured me that they always
captured the animal either im a dead stump or among the grasses of the Xanthorrhea; at King George’s
Sound it appears to differ from both the preceding, for there the natives always pointed out as the nest of
this species, a raised structure of fine twigs and coarse grass, very closely resembling that of the common
Perameles. The stomachs of those I dissected contained the remains of insects of various kinds. While
at King George’s Sound, I obtained a female with seven young attached ; they were little more than half an
inch in length, quite naked and blind. Above the mamme of the mother is a very slight fold of skin, from
which the long hairs of the under surface spread downwards and effectually cover and protect the young.
The fold in the skin of the abdomen is the only approximation to a pouch that I have found in any
The young are very tenacious of life ; those above mentioned lived nearly two days,
member of this genus.
1 spirits of wine continued in
attached to the mamme of the dead mother; and after being immersed 11
motion for nearly two hours.” |
The sexes are precisely alike in colour ; but the female is somewhat the smaller. ;
This little animal may be thus described :—All the upper surface reddish brown, interspersed with
numerous longer hairs, which are black in the centre and white at the tip, giving the animal a peculiarly
; buffy grey ; outside of the fore and hind legs rufous ; tail
at the tip which terminates in a fine poimt, whereas at the
the hairs are also
grizzled appearance ; flanks and under surface
similar to the upper surface, passing into black
base it is thicker and the hairs more lengthened than im any other species of the genus ;
of a more stiff and wiry character.
The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size.
a
NAIVEVEY.
Gi
BONO
YS
FANE MAIO MVEA SENS OA OAS WON ONS AER ——————— |
PSSONENRENENCNENENENG SE RESENCRENENENE NENG SANE SENENENCNE NE NE NENG BE NENENE NG BE SEDEREIGNEDE RENE BENG NE BEDE DEAE AGBEDKAE NESE REDERS |
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ANTECHINUS FLAVIPES.
Rusty-footed Antechinus.
Phascogale flavipes, Waterh. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part 5. Peon
rufogaster, Gray, App. to Grey’s Journ., vol. ii, p. 407.
Antechinus flavipes, Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 99.
Phascogale (Antechinus) flavipes, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 415.
THE specific term of flavipes is scarcely an appropriate appellation for this animal, for, as will be seen on
reference to the accompanying drawing, which, if not taken from the original type, was made from precisely
similarly coloured specimens, the feet are of a deep rust-red, the yellowish red hue which suggested the
name being only found in some specimens. Of all the Antechini yet discovered, the present is the most
common ; I observed it to be very abundant both in New South Wales and in South Australia, and remarked
that specimens from both these countries presented little or no difference either in size or colour. Like
most of the other species of the genus, this little animal inhabits the hollow branches of the large Ewcalypti.
I frequently saw it running over the fallen logs by the creek sides of the plains of Adelaide, and remarked
that in New South Wales it affected similar localities, and exhibited similar actions and habits. — Its
progression over the boles of trees is effected bya succession of very quick jumps like those of the Common
Squirrel, and it passes round and beneath the branches with equal facility. Besides being conspicuous for
its rusty coloured feet, this species is distinguished by the colouring of the face, back of the head,
shoulders, and upper part of the back being dark grey with yellowish hairs interspersed, giving those parts a
freckled appearance, while the lower part of the back and the thighs are more rufous. I could not observe
any difference in the colouring of the sexes or of the young: in the relative size of the sexes, on the con-
trary, considerable difference exists, the adult female being always smaller than the male of the same age.
Fur moderately long and soft ; general colour of the upper surface grey, tinted with fulvous on the lower
part of the back; sides of the body washed with rusty yellow; under surface of the body and feet rusty
yellow; chin, throat and chest whitish; tail black, freckled with yellow towards the base above, and rusty
yellow beneath ; tail clothed with short hairs, lengthened into a small tuft at the point.
The figures are of the natural size.
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ANTECHINUS FULIGINOSUS, Gould.
VANE
ae
Sooty Antechinus.
v4)
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Antechinus fuliginosus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe. 1852.
Twoor-dong, Aborigines of King George’s Sound.
3
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—
.
species of Antechinus, which is a native of Western Australia,
HIS spe
i
may be easily distinguished from the
other members of the genus by its very dark colouring, a feature pervading both the upper and under
surface of the animal. Up to this time, that is, after fourteen years’ close
a
ra
mM
attention to the natural productions
any other than the western part of that
country; there, however, it is very abundant, both at King George’s Sound and in the vicinity of Perth.
I am indebted to the researches of the late Mr. Gilbert for the following account, which, how
it is, will I hope be read with interest by every true lover of zoology :—
“This is so much like the Antechinus albipes, that I considered it to be the same animal, until, by hunting
for it myself, I found that it not only differs in habits, but is of a somewhat larger size and very much
of Australia, I have never seen an example of this species from
36
Nang
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ever, brief as
Wy
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63
cy
darker colour. Its favourite resorts are newly burnt spots, especially those adjacent to swamps and moist
meadows. Among the clumps of the burnt stumps of coarse grass it burrows out the earth, and fills the
cavity with short pieces of fine twigs and grass in the form of a round heap about two or three inches in
Vn
43
height, the top being in most instances level with the surface of the surrounding earth ; this structure
363
is from six to twelve inches in diameter and from ten to fifteen in depth; in the top are several
holes leading to galleries situated about half way down, which run horizontally among the roots of the
3G
surrounding scrub, and into one or other of which the animal escapes while the upper or loose portions of
2 e . . =)
the sticks and grass are being removed. These structures are so precisely similar to the nests formed of
pieces of grass and twigs of the same form and placed in similar situations by a small species of black
. 2 5 . . os ° Me e - .
ant, that I had passed hundreds without detecting them to be different, until the natives pointed them
2
* thi i iffer ing the rance-holes at the top and the
out to me as the nests of this animal, the only difference being, the entrance é pi nr
absence of ants in the interior. I endeavoured to keep this species in captivity, but rarely succeeded in
: . . . . . : i
preserving it alive for more than a couple of days. It is exceedingly active in its habits, and when at rest
Z : ; AClaandaorainn = thelowenli
1 I ce 5 28 md prominent 5 the lower lip
the general contour of its body is short and ball-like; the eyes are black < LE ae ae I
ner : ij : ingular hissing-like noise common
shows distinctly to the gape, and is of a pale lemon-yellow ; it utters the singular hissing :
: . ; S re i “tS wer machs
to most of the Marsupials. It feeds at night, and appears to prey upon insects generally, as the stomac
2 oo ~ = . 22) |
of those I examined contained insects of various kinds. : nine tae ee |
The whole of the upper surface dark greyish brown, interspersed with numerous longer black , giving
ce
it a fuliginous or sooty hue; face of a lighter tint; the whiskers and a narrow mark round ae ee black ; a
‘ : ; He eee cl ntre by a narrow line of buffy grey extending from the Pay
sides of the chest sooty grey, separated down the cen N) : . 1 the hinder tarsi and Nw
chin to the insertion of the fore legs; under surface pale greyish white ; ree Cee - : ; t Fae
: ict ly tinted with buff: tail dark reddish brown, becoming greyish beneath; ears inclined to So
feet white, slightly tinted wi 3 Kons
silvery grey. inches. ae)
‘
> root of the tail 37 S
Length from the nose to the roo i “A rj
e Clete 7 iH ae
,, arm and hand So,
,, tarsi and toes Ree Gp ; ; ; s oe : fo
99 : - C the base o Crealune ww ;
5 ,, face from the tip of the nose to 2 SS
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The figures are of the natural size.
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ANTECHINUS ALBIPRES.
White-footed Antechinus.
Phascogale albipes, Waterh. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 48.
Phascogale (Antechinus) albipes, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 421.
Otam-in, Aborigines of Perth.
Tux accompanying Plate represents the Phascogale (Antechinus) albipes of Mr. Waterhouse, which appears
to be almost universally distributed over the whole of the southern coast of Australia, from Swan River to
New South Wales. I possess specimens collected by Mr. Gilbert in the vicinity of Perth, in the Swan
River settlement, and others procured by him on the Darling Downs in New South Wales, while the speci-
men from which Mr. Waterhouse took his description had been sent from the intermediate district of
Adelaide in South Australia. Some little difference is observable in specimens from the eastern and western
coasts, particularly in the size of the ear, that organ being of a larger and rounder form in the individuals
from New South Wales than in those from Western Australia ; still this character is too slight to be regarded
as indicative of anything but a mere local variety. I find the following notes respecting this animal among
Mr. Gilbert’s letters to me from Western Australia :—
“This species inhabits the dead stumps of the grass-trees (Xanthorrhea). It makes no nest, but merely
scrapes together a few of the dry fibrous parts: more than a single pair are rarely seen at one time. The
stomachs of those I examined contained the remains of coleoptera. The length of the animal before skin-
ning was seven inches from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail; the tail being three and three-
eighths. This species is to be found among the grassy lands of the Toodyay district, as well as among the
dense groves of Xanthorrhea surrounding the swamps in the vicinity of Perth.” When writing from Darling
Downs in New South Wales he remarks: ‘‘ This animal here inhabits clumps of grass in scrubby places :
it may be readily distinguished from all the other members of the genus by its very large ears, the general
lightness of its fur, and its long, slender tanilene
Mr. Waterhouse’s remarks on this species are as follows :-—
“The White-footed Antechinus was discovered by the late J. B. Harvey, Esq., a very zealous corre-
sponding member of the Zoological Society: in size and colouring it greatly resembles the Field Mouse of
Europe; its form is more robust than any of the other Antechini, its feet are more slender, and a greater
portion of the palm of the hind foot is clothed with fur.
“The fur both on the upper and under parts of the body is of a deep slate-grey colour next the skin ; on
ale yellow colour near the point, and black at the point; those on
‘the eyes are encircled with black; the large ears are clothed
‘ but dusky on the outer surface near the anterior margin ;
hite colour on the under, and partly black and partly
the upper parts the hairs are of a very p
the under surface are white at the point ;
throughout with minute hairs, chiefly of a pale hue,
the tail is clothed with very small hairs of a dirty w
yellow-white on the upper surface.”
The figures are of the natural size.
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ANTECHINUS MACULATUS, Gowa.
Spotted Antechinus.
Antechinus maculatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Dec. Om Solle
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Tue progress of civilization over the vast continent of Australia cannot fail to be the means of bringing to
Ke)
light many species of small quadrupeds at present entirely unknown to the zoologist ; and the immense brushes
which stretch along the southern and eastern coasts in particular, will, I feel confident, afford many treasures
G3QR
in this department of zoological science. During my short rambles in some of those extensive brushes, I
Maa
frequently saw among the fallen leaves and thick herbage, many small, agile, mouse-like marsupials, which
Ga
I found it impossible to procure, as they were too light to spring the ordinary traps, however lightly they
might be set, and I was unprovided with any more suitable contrivances for capturing them; it must also
BAN
1
be remembered that the difficulty of collecting them is much increased by their being all more or less noc-
turnal in their habits. Mr. Strange, however, from time to time sends me, among other objects, one of
these little quadrupeds ; and it is to him that we are indebted for our knowledge of the pretty species figured
in the accompanying Plate, which was procured in the brushes near the river Clarence, a little to the south-
Contrarieties with regard to colouring and disposition of markings continually
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ward of Moreton Bay.
occur in the Australian Fauna, of which the present little animal offers another instance; since, contrary to
the normal rule, we find it ornamented on the lower instead of the upper parts of the body.
The animal sent by Mr. Strange is a fully adult male and may be thus described :—
the general tint of the upper surface is dark
INANE
The fur is short, dense, and closely applied to the skin ;
y grizzled with yellowish brown; lower part of the flanks and the under surface of
=
blackish brown, minutel
the body dark brownish slate-grey, ornamented with oblong spots of white arranged in irregular rows in the
direction of the body: there is also a streak of white down the centre of the throat.
The figures are of the natural size.
LINIVIVIVIY AAV
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——— ——————— NENENENENE NENA MENG DENSNG NENG NE NENG NG MEAENGAE AK ABAGASABAO AL DEAK AZADA DEAK DENS BGO 06 0500 Sh OS DE RB OOK
[SHAMANS RADEREDG RS BEREEEEEBEBERENSBENG NENG BENS SENENG NENG DENENS NORE DENEAC DS SAAEDSAGAE NG DEAE NG DANG DEDEDE DORA ASSEORAR ESOS ECOSSS
ares
ANTECHINUS MINUTISSIMUS
Minute Antechinus.
» Gould.
Antechinus minutissimus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1852.
Tuts is by far the least of the Marsupials that have as yet been discovered in Australia. The accompanying
| atural size. The little
Antechin of Australia constitute two very distinct Sroups or subsections; the form of one of which Is
figures which were taken from fully adult specimens represent the animal of the n
characterized by a more elegant and lengthened contour, a sharper and more attenuated muzzle, larger ears
and longer, more slender and mouse-like formed tarsi, such as is seen in Antechinus albipes, A. flee
and A. murinus ; and the other by a shorter and bluffer head, smaller rounded ears, and extremely short
and broad tarsi, as is perceptible in 4. flavipes, A. maculatus, and the present species, 4. minutissmus. Tam
quite sure that this difference in structure is accompanied by an equally marked difference in the habits
and actions of the animals constituting these two groups: I had many opportunities of observing the 4.
flavipes in a state of nature, and noticed that it exhibited some very curious actions while traversing the
large boles and limbs of the trees, both those that were prostrate as well as those still erect: its mode of
progression was more like that of the squirrel than of any other animal with which I can compare it; as it
traversed the limbs in every direction by leaps, with widely spread legs, sometimes sideways, at others with
the head downwards ; indeed in any position in which it wished to move.
The native habitat of the 4. minutissimus is the districts on the eastern coast of Australia, in the neigh-
bourhood of Moreton Bay. I have specimens collected by Mr. Strange labelled with the native name of
Pimburam.
Fur short and closely applied to the skin; the whole of the upper surface, including the tail, greyish
brown, the latter being paler beneath ; chin and throat pale buff; feet buffy brown; under surface of the
body and legs greyish buff gradually blending with the brown of the upper surface, but the buffy tint predo-
minating on the centre of the abdomen and vent.
inches.
Length from the nose to the root of the tail ire ee 4
oftail . . 0 8
s », arm and hand 8:
tarsi and toes eee <5
» >, face from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear . . 3%
>», Car
The figures are of the natural size.
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PODABRUS MACROURUS, Gowa
Large-tailed Podabrus.
Podabrus macrourus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIII. p. 79.
Phascogale (Antechinus) macroura, Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 426.
Aut that I have to record respecting this new and interesting little animal, is that several specimens were
procured and sent to me, accompanied with the following remarks, by Mr. Gilbert, just prior to starting on
his ill-fated expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington.
“This is an interesting species, inasmuch as it assimilates in the large size of its tail to the little thick-
tailed species (P. crassicaudatus) of the western coast. I found it inhabiting clumps of grass on the open
plains in pairs, but I am told by an intelligent native of the Namoi that he has frequently found as many as
four or five in a nest beneath a large stone, or in a dead hollow log lying on the ground. It is the Zbon-
mo6o-ra-la-ga of the natives of the Namoi. All my specimens were obtained in the Darling Downs district.
Like many others of the genus, the sexes differ very much in size; the size of the tail also varies much in
different individuals, and was always very much smaller in the females.”
The fur in this animal is very soft, and both on the upper and under parts of the body of a slate-grey
colour next the skin; the general hue of the upper parts of the body is ashy grey, but the fur is much
pencilled with black; on the sides of the body there is but little of the black pencilling, and hence the
general hue is paler; and on these parts, as well as on the sides of the head, is a faint yellow tint; the
under parts of the body are white, very indistinctly suffused with yellow on the mesial portion of the abdo-
men; between the white of the under parts and the greyish hue of the sides of the body is a narrowish
an almost uniform pale yellow hue, and the same tint is observed on the outer side of the
h pale yellow; on the upper surface of the head is a mark,
ack, and immediately
space which is of
legs ; the feet are white, obscurely tinted wit
narrow on the muzzle, but becoming expanded behind, which is almost entirely bl
The ears are of moderate size, have the posterior margin nearly
around the eyes the hairs are also black.
hairs, and externally with black hairs, excepting
straight, and are clothed internally with small pale yellowish ex
The tail is very thick at the base, being about 35 lines in diameter
clothed throughout with very minute hairs,
| sides of the tail the hairs are partly black
on the hinder part, where they are pale.
at this part, and becomes gradually slender to the apex ; it is
between which the scaly skin is visible; on the upper parts anc
and partly yellow, and on the under surface they are dirty white.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
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Sa ae EBCDGEdESEBEDEDE DEDEDE DEDESESE DEDEDE AL OG OS SESS OGOCOSOOOSOROBDS OES
PODABR US CRASSICAUDATUS, Gould.
Thick-tailed Podabrus.
Phascogale crassicaudata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p. 105.
A SINGLE specimen only of this curious little Marsupial has as yet come under my notice. This was sent
me from Western Australia by Mr. Gilbert, who procured it at the Military Station on William’s River.
The following notes which accompanied the specimen comprise all that is at present known respecting the
animal :—
“T regret to say that I have been unable to procure apy information whatever respecting the habits and
economy of this very curious species. It was brought into the station by a domestic cat, which is constantly
in the habit of going into the bush and returning several times during the night with a small mammal or
bird in her mouth; and by this means I obtained it fortunately uninjured. The most striking and singular
character of this pretty little animal is the form of the tail, which it was quite impossible to skin without
making an incision throughout its entire length ; when the skin was removed the fat presented precisely
the same appearance as that of the tail of the Beaver. From the circumstance of none of the natives
recognising it, I am induced to believe it to be a very rare species. Before it was skinned its entire length
was 5 inches; tail, 112; from the nose to the ear, 7; from the nose to the eye, x; ear, 2. The eyes
were black, full and prominent.”
Upper surface grey with a wash of yellow, and on the sides of ue body cistimatly tinted with reddish
buff; under parts and feet pure white ; tail much swollen, especially in the ee ed throughout
with very minute pale hairs ; ears externally dark brown, with a patch of buff at the tip; internally flesh-
colour clothed with minute pale hairs.
The figures represent the animal in two positions of the natural size ; the specimen from which they were
drawn now forms part of the collection at the British Museum. .
The beautiful little flowering plant (Calectarva cyanea) represented in the drawing is very common in
many parts of Western Australia.
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Tue Ursine Sarcophilus was one of the first of the native qu
Van Diemen’s Land, from whom its black colourin
names of Devil and Native Devil.
rarely, if ever, seen there in a state of nature ;
untrodden by man; and such localities, particularly the rocky gullies and
that the animal is to be found in any of its colonies
native habitat.
kangaroos and other native quadrupeds, but assails the sheep-folds and |
SARCOPHILUS URSINUS.
Ursine Sarcophilus.
Didelphis ursina, Harris in inn. ‘rans., vol. 1tKe p. Gy pl 19. fio
I I] | " - ng. oe
Dasyurus ursimnus Geo . Ann. du ] Tus om. Xv p 305.—T —W ec
‘ ff \ an I XAVEND SG 2 Temm. Mon. de Mamm t 1 | t 1
4 . . . e | +» COM. 1. p. 69. at rh. Nat. Lib.
’
Diabolus Uursinus, Gray In £ Pp. O Gre OurT of Iwo Ex Vo N W . W US rali * 400. Vo. OR List of
I A Ss J alae ‘ to IN. W and . A st
Viamm Br Mus., p. 97. ? : :
Dasyw us (Sar cophilus ) UrSINUS, VV ater h N at. Hi t M amm., vol. 1
Devil and Native Devil of the Colonists of V
tA
. p. 448.
an Diemen’s Land.
Se
adrupeds encountered by the early settlers in
g and unsightly appearance obtained for it the trivial
ly hea ot ers : . oe
t has now become so scarce in all the cultivated districts, that it is
there are yet, however, large districts in Van Diemen’s Land
vast forests on the western side of
the island, afford it a secure retreat, During my visit to the continent of Australia I met with no evidence
» consequently Tasmania alone must be regarded as its
In its disposition it is untameable and savage in the extreme, and is not only destructive to the smaller
1en-roosts whenever an opportunity
occurs for its entering upon its destructive errand.
Although the animal has been well known for so many years, little or nothing more has been recorded
respecting it than that which appeared in the ninth volume of the Linnean Society’s Transactions from the
pen of Mr. Harris, who states :-—
WUOLWS
SAIRC YO)
‘These animals were very common on our first settling at Hobart Town, and were particularly destructive
to poultry, &c. They, however, furnished the convicts with a fresh meal, and the flesh was said to be not
unlike veal. As the settlement increased, and the ground became cleared, they were driven from their
haunts near the town to the deeper recesses of the forests yet unexplored. They are, however, easily pro-
cured by setting a trap in the most unfrequented parts of the woods, baited with raw flesh, all kinds of
which they eat indiscriminately and voraciously ; they also, it is probable, prey on dead fish, blubber, &c.,
as their tracks are frequently found on the sands of the sea-shore.
“In a state of confinement they appear to be untameably savage, biting severely, and uttering at the same
time a low yelling growl. A male and a female which I kept for a couple of months chained together in an
empty cask, were continually fighting; their quarrels began as soon as it was dark (as they slept all day),
and continued throughout the night almost without intermission, accompanied by a kind of hollow barking
not unlike that of a dog, and sometimes a sudden kind of snorting, as if the breath was retained a con-
siderable time and then suddenly expelled. They frequently sat on their hind parts, and used their fore
paws to convey food to their mouths. The muscles of the jaws were very strong, as they cracked the largest
bones asunder with ease.”
Mr. Gunn remarks, that notwithstanding their comparatively small size, they are so fierce and bite so
severely, that they are a match for any ordinary-sized dog.
The fur is coarse, moderate in length, and black, excepting on the head, tail and under parts of the
body; a broad white band usually crosses the chest, and extends backwards on eis side, more : es
over the base of the fore leg; and a second crosses the back near the root of the tail; the nose, the ears
and the soles of the feet are of a fleshy pink. ;
Much diversity exists in the colouring of different individ ;
alike ; some being uniformly black, while others are crossed eng b i
white patch on the chest only, while others have a band of white stretching
uals ; in fact, scarcely two are found precisely
ands of pure white; some having a
round the neck; and others
ai ches of across the fore or hind legs, or both.
again patches of the same hue across the fore or hind legs, 7 : .
“Mr. 1 ‘nen. which died in the menagerie of the Zoological Society,
Mr. Waterhouse states that a very fine specimen, which = Fe eae
! i il 23 inches »s; from the r
measured from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail 23 inches 9 lines; tro
rf > chest 20 inches.
tail 11 inches, and round the body at the chest 2 ae
e : is made by Mr. H. C. Richter, from a fine living specimen in
as mé oie
. s DI]. > 7,
I ine Cc > accompanying Plate w : ea gee
he alae) on the accompanying animal about two-thirds of the natural size.
- - 0 ~ . ane fa ey S he
the menagerie of the Zoological Society, and represents ¢
ch let; Act et lth
I. Gould aria IT Chi
MBs sae:
°SOWILWILMNOVIA SMUOLASVa
HAVIN AUN
4
wae IMT UA
A a
Ea d
ewohs BEBE «
Cove Se
167?
del & Hivllope. 7.
MACIUILATIW S .
1
RAGS
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del et lith
nd HC hachter,
JS. Gould a
DASYURUS MACULATUS.,
Spotted-tailed Dasyurus.
The Spotted Martin, Phillip’s Voy. to Bot. Bay, p. 276.—Martin, Cat., pl. 46
oh 2 d coleenes 5 aly a .
Viverra maculata, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i. Due we pe aos!
Mustela Nove-Hollandie, Meyen.
Dasyurus macrourus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus i 358.—Per S
y : S., tom. 1. p. 358.—Peron et Lesueur, Voy. aux Terr. Australes, pl. 33.—
Temm. Mon. de Mamm., tom. i. p. 69.—Waterh. Nat. Lib. Marsupialia, vol. xi. p. 139. pl. 6.
——- maculatus, Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 98.—Waterh. Nat. Hist. Mamm., vol. i p. 439
. a "9 . . . « .
Tue Spotted-tailed Dasyurus is universally dispersed over every portion of Van Diemen’s Land suitable to
its habits and mode of life ; I have also received specimens from the Liverpool Range and similar districts of
New South Wales ; but from no other portion of Australia have I seen examples. Rocky gullies trending
from the mountain ranges through primitive forests are the favourite abode of this animal, and here, like the
Pole and Martin Cats of Europe, it skulks beneath large stones and in holes of the ground; it also ascends
trees with the greatest facility in pursuit of birds, which, with bandicoots and other small quadrupeds,
afford it an abundant supply of food. It is a strictly nocturnal animal, and, as might be supposed, a most
dreaded enemy to poultry: it is consequently regarded by the settler as one of his greatest pests.
The sexes are not distinguishable in colour, neither do the young, which are from four to six in number,
materially differ in this respect; the female, however, never attains the large size of the male. It is the
largest species of the genus yet discovered, and differs from all its known congeners in the spotted markings
of its tail.
Mr. Waterhouse having most carefully described the colour and markings of all the members of this
genus, and in many instances from specimens in my own collection, I take the liberty of transcribing the
following description from his valuable work :—
“The fur is harsh to the touch, and rather short ; its colour varies from a very deep brown to a rich red
brown; the head is always paler than the back, and sometimes assumes a yellowish hue, being much pen-
cilled with this pale tint; other parts of the body are more or less pencilled with yellowish, and the whole
under parts of the body, as well as the fore-legs and feet, are of a dirty yellow ; the upper lip, chin and
throat are of a more pure yellow tint; the toes of the fore feet are yellowish ; the hind legs externally, and
the hind feet, scarcely differ in tint from the upper parts of the body; the tail is nearly equal in length to
the head and body, cylindrical, and clothed with tolerably long and harsh hairs; its general os is the
same as that of fhe Bode or nearly so; the ears are short, clothed internally for the most part with small
yellowish hairs, but at ili margin the hairs are longer, and near the anterior angle they are tolerably long ;
on the outer side the ears are of the same colour as the crown of the head. With regard to iene epeds
with which this animal is adorned, they vary considerably in different individuals, and are very ee A
of the upper parts and sides of the body; some few are also
size and form; they are observed on the whole -
é ate, or presents but two or three very
visible on the under parts and on the legs ; the head is usually immacul
”?
small spots; the spots on the tail are often large, but never numerous.
The Plate represents a male of the natural size.
vay
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St MODI LF? PIRIUP UAT VYY
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ANE BESS NERA DED BeBe
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1 Gould and HC Richter, del et Ath
DASYURUS VIVERR INUS.
Variable Dasyurus.
The Spotted Opossum, oS Voy. to Bot. Bay, p. 147 Fol
Tapoa Tafa, White, Journ. of a Voy. to New South ie ales,
—-: p. 285 and pl.
Didelphis Viverrina, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i. pt. i
See) emo Lee TST
——— guttatus, Desm. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat.
Dasyurus Viverrinus et D. eee Geoff. Ann. du Mus., tom.
72. pl. 7. figs. 1-8, skull and ee jaw.—W an Nat. Hist. Mamm., vol.
2 pp. 442, 444.—T1 ». Nat.
Lib. ee pp. 133, 135, pl. 7.—Cat. of Mamm. in Brit
. Mus. p. 97.
Puar the specific terms V7verrinus and Maugci have reference to one and the same animal, I had abundant
opportunities of ascertaining during my residence in Van Diemen’s Land; where not unfrequently litters
came under my notice in which the prevailing colour of some of the e young was black, and in others grey :
to the former the old specific term of Viverrinus was applied, and to the latter the
Mauger.
The habits and economy of the present species are very similar to those of the Spotted-tailed Dasyurus ;
it also inhabits almost exclusively the same countries—Van Diemen’s Land and New South Wales. During
the daytime, hollow trees, holes in the rocks, and stony places form the retreats of this pretty animal ;
night approaches, it Recome s alert and active, and seeks for its living prey, which consists of small aie
peds and birds without restriction to any particular species.
I believe that six will be found to be the normal number of the young, since that was the number contained
in a litter I obtained in Van Diemen’s Land, of which three were black, and three grey-coloured animals :
the former, I am assured, are not, however, so regularly met with, and must be considered the variety.
Mr. Waterhouse remarks, in his ‘“‘ Natural History of the Mammalia ”’—
“As no individuals presenting an intermediate condition of colouring are found, I at first suspected that
the difference might be sexual; but such is not the case, since I have seen male specimens, both of
the black and grey varieties. The former vary only from brown black to black; the under parts of the
body and the feet are generally brownish. The fur on the back is grey next the skin, and that on the ab-
domen is also grey, but of a paler hue ; the white spots on the body vary in size, some being very small, and
others more than half an inch in diameter; on the head there are a few small white spots ; the tail is bushy,
being provided with long hairs, averaging on the basal portion about an inch in length, but of oe that
length at the point; on the under surface they are, however, comparatively short ; im length the be ee
equal to the body; the ears are tolerably large arid somewhat attenuated at the apex; they are clothed with
short black heresy which are most abundant on the outer surface, but are also plentiful on the inner surface
at the point and near the anterior angle, in which latter part the hairs are considerably longer than else-
in the living animal, as is also the naked tip of the nose
where; the back of the ear is of a pale pink colour
but covered with small fleshy tubercles.
and Ae soles of the feet, the latter being also destitute of hair, eee
; oreyis ‘+h suffused with yellow ;
In the light-coloured animals :—‘ The general colour of the fur is greyish, but mucn s : ;
a pale grey colour at the root, pale yellow
d hairs have their visible portions almost
of an uniform yellowish white tint ;
each hair of the ordinary fur on the upper parts of the body is of
near the point, and black at the point, and the coarser interspersec
entirely black; on the feet and under parts of f the body the hairs are ae
| the ears are for the most part rather spar
the tail is bushy, of the same general hue
ysite extremity, and is terminated with
the sides of the face are almost of an uniform pale yellow ;
clothed with pale hairs ; at their base externally is a white spot 5
5
sr > oppe
as the body at the base, but becomes gradually paler tow ards the op}
white or dirty yellow-white hairs.”
: Ize.
The figures represent both states of the animal of the natural s
ll. pp. 359, 360. —Temm. Mon. de Mamm., 1 Deal
more modern one of
(oa
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656
BONER
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DASYURUS GEOFFROYI
ol » Gould.
: Ye
Geoffroy’s Dasyurus.
° reoffroyt, Gould in Proc. of Z Soc., part viii K ify th OE : BE
Dasyurus Geoff oy Proc o Zool. Soc., part viii. p. 151.—Waterh. Nat. Lib. Marsupialia, p. 132.—Ib.,
Nat. Hist. Mamm., vol. i. p. 437.—Cat. of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 98. | |
eee
No other species of the present genus is so widely distributed over the continent of Australia as the Dasy-
urus Geoffroy?, which inhabits the whole of the southern portion of the country from Moreton Bay on the east
fo Swan River on the west. Unlike the D. Viverrinus and D. maculatus which frequent the country lying
between the mountain ranges and the sea, the present animal appears to be exclusively confined to the
regions on the interior side of the hills, the specimens I have seen having been procured on the Liverpool
2 Plains in New South Wales, the Murray Scrub in South Australia, and beyond the ranges of Swan River
oa on the western coast. I have stated of the other members of this genus that they are nocturnal in their
4 habits, but that the present is not strictly so is shown by my having encountered one at midday while silently
ee wandering in the Murray Scrub in South Australia, which, squirrel-like, ran up to the topmost branches of |
Ze, ane ; ; ee i
a a neighbouring gum-tree, whence I immediately dislodged it with my gun in order to obtain a knowledge
fs of the species.
"i I believe that the Dasyurus Geoffroy’ is never subject to those variations of colour so conspicuous in
La D. Viverrinus.
az Its brown tail clothed with much shorter hairs than in any of its congeners is a character by which it may
2 at all times be distinguished from either of them.
a [have named this species in honour of M. Geoffroy de St. Hilaire, the eminent French naturalist, in token
< of respect for his valuable labours in the field of science.
e “The fur is moderately long, rather soft, and on the upper part of the body of greyish hue, but much
suffused with yellow, and pencilled with black; and these parts moreover, as well as the sides of the body, |
. a ° 4 ° Tv |
are adorned with numerous irregular white spots; the head has a few small white spots only, and is often |
of a greyer hue than other parts, but the muzzle is somewhat tinted with brownish, and in front os dine eye Wo
: Bey ta alll epee ' ackis rown hairs; inter-
is a dusky patch; the ears are dusky brown and clothed externally with mmute blackish brown uae ; inte
: ' 2 : PT TSTaNTs Soin: ar apex, anc
nally with longish pencilled black and grey hairs, at or near the anterior margin ; but oe i apex,
. . . ae fea - parts of the body are white, or very
on the hinder parts, the hairs are miuute and brownish; the under parts of t i ss ,
> . ° : a ee alter i are nearly white, or greyis
nearly so; the fore feet are brownish, sometimes brownish white; the hind feet : | a J : , ae
: ; TE : ae NCI ith black, the ends of the hz
suffused with yellow; the tail is yellowish at the base, but much pencilled es : : iy abGueonecinen
: r : shoe ae ards the tip of the tail, and usually a -t
being of that colour; the black gradually increases towards the tip 0 all,
is entirely black.”
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. e
ae
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Dill UPPPLY Y POP UPI UY “SMILWVIMIMIVIA SOO SVa Y2L2D 72° YOY LALYPRT «Df PUY PYNOD [7
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AJLATILA &
J Gould. and HC Richter, del.et. lath
DASYURUS HALLUCATUS, Gow.
North Australian Dasyurus.
Dasyurus hallucatus, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., part x. p. 41.—Waterh. Nat. Hist. Mamm.
‘ : ; WOll, i, jo, 4g
Cat. of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 98. 01.1. p. 434,
Tue small number of specimens of the Dasyurus hallucatus that have come under my notice renders it unsafe
for me to affirm that it is or is not subject to the variations in colour which are observable in D. Vwerrinus ;
but I have reason to believe that such is the case. All the examples that have yet been sent to Europe have
been procured in the extreme northern portion of the Australian continent, and the greater number of them
from the Port Essington Settlement on the Cobourg Peninsula.
Mr. Waterhouse having instituted a very careful examination and comparison of this animal with the
other members of the genus, I cannot do better than give bis remarks verbatim from his “Natural History
of the Mammalia,” above referred to.
“This is the smallest species of the true Dasyures, being a trifle less than D. Viverrinus or D. Geoffroy: ;
with the latter animal it might be confounded, having like it a thumb to the hind feet; upon a close exami-
nation, however, I discovered several characters by which it might be easily distinguished. It is of smaller
size than D. Geoffroy:, of a darker colour; with the ears of a paler colour and clothed with pale hairs ; the
longer hairs which cover the root of the ear externally are whitish; the toes of the hind foot are longer,
since I found them to be seven lines in length in Aaducatus, and only six and a quarter in a specimen of
Geoffroy’, which was of the same sex and of considerably larger size; and, lastly, I find the whole sole, both
of the fore and hind feet in D. Geoffroy’, covered with minute but distinct fleshy tubercles, as is also the
case in D. Viverrinus ; while in D. hallucatus 1 could scarcely perceive a trace of tubercles; and the fleshy
pads at the base of the toes and elsewhere, on which the tubercles were most distinct in Geoffroy?, are covered
with numerous oblique or transverse grooves; the pads, moreover, at the base of the toes, were much nar-
rower and proportionately longer.” :
“The fur is less dense and harsher than in D. Geoffroy’; the upper parts of the body dusky brown, in-
clining to black, but pretty freely pencilled with yellowish, and having numerous, irregular and Des
sides of the body; on the crown of the head are a few very
are white, but suffused with yellowish ; most distinctly so
s of the body are greyish ; ears
sized white spots, which extend likewise on the
small white spots; the under parts of the body
about the throat ; the cheeks, a large patch above the eye, and the sides a
pinkish flesh colour, thinly clothed with small pale-coloured hairs; immediately at the Daag externally t i
, and the part of the head immediately adjoining
lothed throughout with
bly pencilled with
hairs are longer and dense, and of a yellowish white colour i
the root of the ear has similar pale hairs ; the tail is immaculate, cylindrical,
basal third is brownish, but considera
longish hars airs 7 neans bushy; the ;
gish harsh hairs, but by no mez y3 region of the pouch
ae . . ack the feet are brownish, and the
black, and the remaining two-thirds almost entirely black ; the feet are b ;
ie x . ”
is clothed with very dark red hairs appearing as 1f stained with blood.
ry 7 5 .
lhe figures are of the natural size.
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THYLACINUS CYNOCEPHALUS.
Thylacinus.
HEAD, OF THE SIZE OF LIFE.
Wuewn the comparatively small island of Tasmania becomes more densely populated, and
its primitive forests are intersected with roads from the eastern to the western coast, the
numbers of this singular animal will speedily diminish, extermination will have its full sway,
and it will then, like the Wolf in England and Scotland, be recorded as an animal of
the past: although this will be a source of much regret, neither the shepherd nor the
farmer can be blamed for wishing to rid the island of so troublesome a creature. A price
is already put upon the head of the native Tiger, as it 1s called; but the fastnesses of
the Tasmanian rocky gullies, clothed with impenetrable forests, will, for the present, pre-
serve it from destruction.
I trust my readers will duly estimate the life-sized head, taken from the living animal.
For all that is known respecting the Thylacinus cynocephalus, the reader is referred to the
account given with the reduced figures.
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THYLACINUS CYNOCEPHALUS
Thylacinus.
Didelphis cynocephala, Harris, Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. ix. py lize leg
Dasywrus cynocephalus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus., tom. xv. p. 304. |
Thylacinus cynocephalus, Fisch. Syn. Mamm., p. 270.—Wagn. in Schreb. Sauc. Su r
Waterh. Nat. Lib. (Marsupialia), vol. xi. p. 123. pl. 5.—Ib. ae a Het, p. 19.—
16. fig. 2. Bia ant Olay oe apie
Thylacinus Harrisii, Temm. Mon. de Mamm., vol. i. p. 63. pl. 7. figs. 1-4,
Peracyon cynocephalus, Gray, List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 97. .
Tiger, Hyena, Zebra-Opossum, Zebra-Wolf, and Dog-headed Opossum of the Colonists.
Tue circumstance of a fine pair, male and female, of the Thylacinus cynocephalus being now living in the Gar
. . . : a 2 S ae
dens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park, enables me Saget i
/ 9 ‘ Lerent’s barks enables me to give the best figure of the animal that has
yet appeared ; and so great is the interest which attaches to this singular species, that I have been induced
to give a representation of its head of the natural size, in addition to that of the entire animal on a reduced
scale. Tasmania, better known as Van Diemen’s Land, is the country it inhabits, and so strictly is it
confined to that island,
Australia. It must be regarded as the most formidable, both of the Marsupialia and
that I believe no instance is on record of its having been found on the neigh-
bouring continent of
Is of Australia: for although too feeble to make a successful attack on man, it
of the indigenous mamma
country, and among the poultry, and other domestic
commits sad havoc among the smaller quadrupeds of the
from its attacks, which are the more difficult to be guarded
are always made at night. The destruction it deals
hence in all cultivated districts
animals of the settler ; even sheep are not secure
against, as the habits of the animal being nocturnal, they
of course, called forth the enmity of the settler, and
on the other hand, so much of Tasmania still remains im
mains in which the animal
around has, as a matter
a state of nature,
the animal is nearly extirpated ;
and so much of its forest land yet uncleared, tl
many years must there
Halmaturus Billardierr and H. Benne
vat an abundance of covert still re
is secure from the attacks of man ; fore elapse before it can become entirely extinct ;
in these remote districts 1t preys upon tti, Bandicoots, Echidne, and
all the smaller animals.
In confinement it is excessively shy, and on being alarmed dashes and leaps about its cage in the most
a short guttural cry resembling a bark ; but whether this sound
Mr. Ronald C. Gunn, who has had better op-
| in its native wilds, states that it Is common
Woolnooth and the Hampshire Hills.
Its attacks
violent manner, uttering at the same time
nature, has not been observed.
is also emitted in a state of
bserving the anima
portunities than any other scientific man of o
ind that it is often caught at
in the more remote parts of the colony, <
woul
d not face one of them.
that a number of dogs tac
when, perhaps from its 1m-
He has seen some so large and powerful,
about in the day-time,
on sheep are usually made by night, but it also prowls
perfect vision by day, its pace is very slow. eo ,
Mr. Harris, to whom we are indebted for our ates that it dwells among
caverns and rocks in the deep and almost impene
Pane of Van Diemen’s Land. The specimen from which :
it remained alive but a few hours, having received some inte :
and, like the Owl, kept almost continually
of an Echidna were found
animal, st
hood of the highest moun-
was caught in a trap
rnal hurt while
first knowledge ot the
trable glens in the neighbour
his description was taken,
baited with kangaroo’s flesh ;
being secured ; it appeared exceedingly inactive
with which the eye 1s ft
and stupid,
; ictitati syished; the remains
moving the nictitating membrane irpishec
Sec. Zool. Soc. dated Launceston,
Society's menagerie :
breed; the pumber of young
often be fewer. They
ow falls for many
1 where frosts are
In its stomach.
In a letter lately received from Mr.
Noy. 12, 1850, the following note occurs re
“T feel little doubt but that the Thylacines will do wet
is four at a litter—at least I have seen four in the female’s pot
. . . p . 2 25 et wh
inhabit the summits of the western mountains (alt. 3500 fe i
e rs » r 2 }
eround is sometimes covered with sno
‘ ae
i in the climate of London likely to 19)
5
by D. W. Mitchell, Esq-,
' the specimens in the =
and very probably
ich, but there may
Gunp
specting
ere, occasionally, si
w for weeks, anc
. ”
months of the year, where the re them very materially.
severe; therefore I can imagine nothir
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The fur is short, and closely applied to the skin, though of a somewhat woolly texture, owing to each
of the hairs of which it is composed being waved; the general tint is greyish brown, but faintly suffused
on the under parts of the body of a paler hue than the upper ; the fur of the back is of a
with yellowish ;
xt the skin, and each hair, excepting those which form the transverse black bands, is
deep brown colour ne
yellowish brown towards and dusky at the point; on the abdomen the hairs are of a paler brown at the
bands are usually about fourteen in number; they commence
aooc00s09 ees 00
.
| root, and brown white externally; the black
| immediately behind the shoulders and are at first narrow and confined to the back, but, proceeding towards
the tail, they become gradually broader and are more extended on the sides; those on the haunches are
longest and often forked at their extremities; the general tint of the head is rather paler than that of the
body, and the region of the eye is of a whitish hue, but a dark spot is observable at the anterior angle of
the eye, and a narrow dark line runs over the eye; the muzzle is dusky, the edge of the upper lip white;
the eye is large, full, and of a blackish brown; long black bristles spring from the upper lip, a few also
occur on the cheeks, and above the eyes; the limbs externally and the feet scarcely differ in colour from
the body; the tail is clothed at the base with a somewhat woolly fur like that of the body, crossed by three
or four black bands, but about the commencement of the second fourth of the tail the hairs become short
and harsh, closely applied to the skin, brown on the upper surface and pale brown beneath ; on the under
surface of the apical portion of the tail the hairs are comparatively long, as well as at the point where they
= ot Se
are blackish.
The animals are figured in life-like positions, but necessarily much reduced; the figure of the head
represents that of the male of the natural size.
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PHASCOLOMYS WOMBAT, Pe.
Wombat.
et Les.
HEAD, OF THE SIZE OF LIFE.
I wisn it to be understood that, an interval of eighteen years having passed away between
the commencement and termination of the present work, there may be some instances
in which opinions expressed in years gone by now require modification. When I pub-
lished the reduced figures of this animal, I remarked that it was uncertain whether there
was more than one species of the genus Phascolomys. I now, in 1868, feel confident that
there are three, if not four, quite distinct Wombats—one inhabiting Tasmania, or Van
Diemen’s Land, and certainly two, if not three, the opposite portion of the Australian
continent.
The life-sized portrait given on the opposite Plate was taken from a Van Diemen’s
Land animal. It will be seen that it is very dark in colour—a feature common, I believe,
to most of the specimens in that island; I have, however, heard of lighter-coloured ex-
amples being occasionally seen, but none have come under my own observation. It will
be observed that, independently of the difference of colour, it is a small animal when
compared with P. latifrons. 1 would call the attention of Professor M‘Coy and one
: who have opportunities of studying the Wombats in their native country fe the import-
ance of investigating their history, since it is to them that the mammalogists of uate
and this should be done speedily ;
Marsupials will soon become
must look for accurate information on the subject:
for, like the Badger in England, these large and singular
scarce. |
1 i in the menagerie
My figure was taken from an individual which lived for many years in g
of the Zoological Society of London.
é
—
63
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PHASCOLOMYS WOMBAT. pp
Wombat.
et Les.
Phascolomys Wombat, Peron et Lesueur, Voy. aux Terres Australes, Atl
Ate ‘ ; ales 5) ;
" aterh. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Mamm., vol. x. Se) a - tab. 28.—Desm. Mamm.
in Proc. of Roy. Soc. of Van Diem. Land, vol. ii a 7 . Nat. Hist. of Mamm., v
» VOI. I. Pp. 90.
» part i. p. 276.—
ol. i. p. 246.—Gunn
, ___— fossor, Sevastianoff in Mém. de l’Acad. Imp. de St. Pétersb :
—__———— wombatus, Leach, Zool. Misc., vol. ii. p. 101. pl. 06 rsb., tom. i. p. 444.
—___—— fusca, Desm. Dict. des Sci. Nat., tom. xxv. p. 500 tab G44
fee Bassi, Less. Man. du Mamm., p. 229. 7% abpalls
______—. ursinus, Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 95
Didelphis ursina, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i. part ii. p. 504. ihe
Wombatus fossor, Geoff.
Opossum hirsutum, Perry, Arcana.
Amblotis fossor, I. Prod., p. 77.
Perameles fossor, Peron.
Womback, Bewick’s Quadr., 6th Edit. p. 522.
Wombat, Collins’s Account of New S$ Tales. vol. ij x
Badger, of the Colonists. ee ee meta
Tue Wombat may be regard f i
arded as one of the most curious Australi : :
ite \ | 8 ost curious of the Australian Mammals, ranking as it does,
respect to its anomalous structure and appearance, with the Koala and Ornithorhynchus. In no other part
of the world is the form to be found, and it 1s diffi P whi 7
‘ id it 1s diffiec ay “hic y ry :
| a emtog a cult to say of which of the great groups of placental animals
, ne representative in its own class—the Marsupiate. I obtained several examples in Van Diemen’s
and. but failed in procuring continental speci ; which Ir i ; |
_ ; c | procuring continental specimens, hich I regret, because it leaves the question as to there
eine more than one species of this form sti Slade a : : . : :
Beng 2 an one species of this form still undecided; nor can this point be determined until specimens
from South Australia have been sent to Europe, or until comparisons have been made in that country by a
Professor Owen informs us that a skull in the Collection
naturalist competent to set the question at rest.
nt differences from skulls
of the Royal College of Surgeons, sent from South Australia, offers sufficie
from Van Diemen’s Land to convince him that there are at least two species ; and when such a statement
the doubt that exists on the subject is much diminished. Mr. Waterhouse
is made by so high an authority,
to be distinct from the animal found in
also states, that in his opinion the continental species will prove
Van Diemen’s Land and the islands in Bass’s Straits. I may mention also that His Excellency Sir George
Grey has placed in my hands a pencil drawing of the head of a specimen killed in South Australia, to which,
from the great breadth of the head, the name of /atifrons, proposed by Professor Owen for the continental
therefore, good reasons for concluding that the continental animal
, and it is much to be regretted that both
After what has been stated, it
ocured in Van Diemen’s Land,
I met with it myself in the
animal, might apply. ‘There appears,
is really distinct 5 but the question still remains an open one
skins and skeletons have not been sent home, for its proper elucidation.
figure was taken from a specimen pr
ts, 1S extremely common.
hind Mount Wellington, and in many other situations
ands in Bass’s Straits, where the
In its habits it is nocturnal,
rging on the approach of
is almost superfluous to say, that my
where the animal, particularly in certain distric
ort Arthur, in the sterile districts be
It is also found in the isl
> vol. il. p- 153, was procured.
during the day, and eme
t immediately runs for safety on the
neighbourhood of Pp
where a similar character of country prevails.
‘«« Collins’s Voyage,’
ows, excavated by itself,
its stronghold, to which 1
however, that it sometimes 1n¢
averses the bottom of the
specimen first described, in
living in the deep stony burr
evening, but seldom trusting itself far
appearance of an intruder. The natives state,
and, if a river should cross its course, quietly
stream until it reaches the other side ; but I am unable to ¢
and docile in the extreme, s00n becoming
I may mention that the two specimen
Zoological Society in th
hed by all who choose
of various authors who have
from
lulges in a long ramble,
walks into the water and tr
onfirm this statement
familiar with and apparently attached
s which are now (1859),
e Regent's Park,
to make so
from personal observation.
In its disposition it is quiet
to those who feed it; as an evidence of which,
and have been for a long period, living in the Gardens of the
not only admit the closest inspection, but may be handled and scratc
m. The following notes are from the pens
yom was Mr. Bass, in “ Collins’s Voyage
t, thick, short-legged, and rather imactive quadruped. Its
a Bear; its pace; too, 1S hobbling or shuffling, and
, it is mild and gentle, but it bites hard and
and a whizz
Fay
Ne)
3e8
GC
» above referred to.
63
intimate an acquaintance with the
written on the Wombat ; the earliest of wl
“The Wombat,” says Mr. Bass, ‘‘is a squa
figure and movements strongly remind one of those of
not unlike the awkward gait of tha In dispositio1
and the
63GB
3
co ing sound, which
n utters a low cry between a hissing
\V/
becomes furious when provoked,
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cannot be heard at a greater distance than thirty or forty yards. Mr. Bass chased one of these animals,
lifted it off the ground and laid it along his arm, as if carrying a child. It made no noise, nor any effort
struge S ace was placid and undisturbed, and it exhibited no discom-
to escape, not even a struggle. Its countenance was ple ‘
e j ile walk it was fr sntly shifted from arm to arm, and sometimes
posure, although in the course of a mile walk it was frequently Se rome arm —
when, however, he proceeded to secure it by tying its legs, while he left it to cut
.
‘t became irritated, whizzed, kicked and scratched most furiously, and snapped
laid over the shoulder ;
a specimen of a new wood, NEE ee | ee
off a piece from the elbow of Mr. Bass’s jacket with its powerful incisors. Its temper ‘oun now ruffled,
it remained implacable all the way to the boat, ceasing to kick and struggle only ee quite eshomstbedl
Mr. G. Bennett in his ‘ Wanderings,” speaking of one of these aniinals, kept in a state of domestication
at Been in the Tumat country, states that ‘it would remain in its habitation till dark; it would then come
out and seek for the milk-vessels, and should none be uncovered, it would contrive to get off the covers
and bathe itself in the milk, drinking at the same time. It would also enter the little vegetable garden
attached to the station in search of lettuces, for which it evinced much partiality. If none could be found,
it would gnaw the cabbage stalks, without touching the leaves. Although this animal IS ea numerous
in the more distant parts of the colony, it is difficult to procure from the great depth CS which it burrows.”
«The specimen dissected by Sir Everard Home,” says Mr. Waterhouse, ‘and which was brought from
one of the islands in Bass’s Straits by Mr. Brown, the eminent botanist, lived as a domestic pet in the
house of Mr. Clift for two years. This animal was a male, measured two feet and two inches in length,
and weighed about twenty pounds. The observations made by Sir Everard Home on the habits of this
animal whilst in confinement, correspond pretty closely with those already given. ‘It burrowed in the
ground whenever it had an opportunity, and covered itself in the earth with surprising quickness ; it was
very quiet during the day, but constantly in motion in the night; was very sensible to cold ae all kinds
of vegetables, but was particularly fond of new hay, which it ate stalk by stalk, taking it into its mouth,
like a Beaver, by small bits at a time. It was not wanting in intelligence, and appeared attached to
those to whom it was accustomed, and who were kind to it. When it saw them it would put up its fore
paws on their knees, and when taken up would sleep in the lap. It allowed children to pull and carry
it about, and when it bit them, it did not appear to do it in anger or with violence.’ ”
This animal, like almost every other of the Australian quadrupeds, is eaten by the natives, but as an
article of food it must give place to the Kangaroo and its affines. I partook of it myself, but always found
its flesh tough, with a musky flavour, and not altogether agreeable.
Mr. Bass remarks that the size of the two sexes is nearly the same, but that the female is somewhat
the heavier, and such appears to be the case; the weight, whenever ascertained, being always in favour
of the female.
In Mr. Gunn’s paper on the Mammals indigenous to Tasmania, published in the “ Proceedings of the
“The Wombats of
Tasmania differ much in colour im different localities, some being dirty black, and others of a silvery grey.
Royal Society of Van Diemen’s Land,” above referred to, that gentleman states that
- They are found on the tops of the mountains, and thence to the sea-coasts; and are very numerous in some
localities, 234 having been killed in less than a year upon a farm, at present occupied by me, on the
St. Patrick’s River.”
For the details of the internal structure of this curious animal, I must refer my readers to the ‘“ Lecons
>
d’Anatomie Comparee ” of the celebrated Cuvier, and to the writings of our equally well-known countrymen,
Sir Everard Home, in the “ Philosophical Transactions” for 1808, and Professor Owen, in the “ Proceedings
of the Zoological Society” for 1836. The original memoir of the latter author, on Phascolomys latifrons,
will be found in the “Proceedings” of the same Society for 1845.
The general hue of the tolerably long and very coarse fur of this animal is grey-brown; next the skin,
the hairs of the ordinary fur of the upper surface are dusky brown, with the exposed portion of a dirty
white, but the longer and coarser hairs are black at the point ; on the under surface the hairs are dusky
at the root, and dirty white for the remainder of their length, the general hue being paler than that of the
upper surface; the muffle is naked and black ; the small poimted ears are well clothed with hairs ; the legs
are short and strong, and the feet broad, naked beneath, and covered with minute, round, fleshy tubercles ;
the claws are large; those of the fore feet solid, or not concave beneath, slightly curved and depressed ;
those of the hind feet are curved, slightly compressed, and concave beneath; the hairs of the moustaches
are numerous, strong and black, as are also some long bristly hairs which spring from the cheeks; the
tail is a mere tubercle, and is hidden by the fur. :
“The skeleton,” says Mr. Waterhouse, “presents certain peculiarities well worthy of attention:
number of its ribs, and consequently of its dorsal vertebra, is unusually |
the
arge, being fifteen, whilst twelve
the body of the atlas vertebra remains permanently
cartilaginous ; the humerus, besides having the inner condyle perforated, h
or thirteen are usually found in the Marsupialia ;
as an opening between the
condyles ; and the patella, or knee-bone, is wanting.”
The Plates represent the head of the natural size, and the entire animal considerably reduced.
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Broad-fronted Wombat.
Heap AND Fore FEeEvr, oF THE SIZE OF LIFE.
For many years the skull of a distinct species of Wombat, from the southern portion of
Australia, has formed part of the collection at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in
Lincoln’s Inn Fields. To the animal to which this skull belonged Professor Owen applied
the name of Phascolomys latifrons. On the receipt by the British Museum of a skin of an
apparently second species of Wombat from Victoria or Adelaide, I came to the conclusion
that it was the skin of the animal characterized by Professor Owen,—a point which could
have been easily determined had the skull been sent with the skin, but unfortunately it
was destitute of this very important appendage: in other words, the skull at the College
, and the skin at the British Museum without the
of Surgeons arrived without the skin
ifrons to the right
skull. I have little doubt, however, of my having applied the term lat
animal.
i in 1 “it | re alluded
The accompanying head was taken from the skin in the British Museum, above a
it differs very considerably im colour
to, and is of the size of life; it will be seen that
. 1 C
from the P. Wombat so common in Tasmania.
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Broad-fronted Wombat.
en.
Phascolomys latifrons, Owen in Proc. of Zool. Soc part xii. p. 82
Soc., xill. p.
2.—Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 252
SS ee
Wuen I attempted to write the history of the Phascolomys
Wombat i
| , | ! vat in the preceding pag is
authenticated specimen from the continent of Australia exi : nie ae
sted i -
s in our museums, and I then stated that the
ex aw > ICT: fn ere EC) t t > S} es te Ze f I S | y ; W € the
name of /atifrons ; but during the present year, the skin of a large Wombat from the souther ts of th
; Be ae aad 3 . rn par
continent of Australia has arrived in this country, unfortunately “ sans teeth eae
: ‘ly “sans teeth,
question of there being more than one species of this fo
that could have settled the question as to there being one or two species ; if Me: “a ae
the skin, much difference exists between the island and continental animale In eye ee
now in pie British eu i exc a all others I have seen; in colour too it is equally distinct ; for while
post of the pie mens oe Pasmania are either black, brown, or greyish brown, that from Victoria is of a
hight sandy buff or isabelline solve I cannot then do otherwise than give a figure of this skin, which I
presume to ie an ecu of Frofessor Owen’s Phascolomys latifrons. Surely some of the collectors in
South Australia or Victoria will forward specimens to Europe, and not leave zoologists still in doubt
respecting the existence or non-existence of a second species.
« Of the Broad-fronted Wombat,” says Mr. Waterhouse, “ all that is known is a skull sent from South
Australia to Professor Owen. This skull presents so many marked differences when compared with that of
the Phase. Wombat, that no doubt can be entertained of the existence of two distinct species of Wombats.
[have sought in vain, however, amongst the specimens of Wombats contained in our museums, for an
animal which might be identified with Professor Owen’s new species. In none have I found the incisor
teeth presenting the broadest surface in front, a peculiarity in which the P. /atifrons differs from P. Wombat,
where the broadest part of the incisor is at the side. The new species differs moreover in having the
upper incisors distinctly broader than the lower, whilst in the Common Wombat the upper and lower
incisors are very nearly equal in width, when viewed in front. The following points of distinction presented
by the skull of P. Zatifrons, when compared with that of P. Wombat, are for the most part pointed out in
some notes from the pen of Professor Owen, who has kindly placed them at my disposal :—
“«The skull of Phase. datifrons is rather smaller and broader in proportion to its length; the upper incisors
transverse section ; the convex enamelled surface directed more forward, and longitu-
trihedral, with the enamelled outer surface flat. The
The lower jaw is shorter, more suddenly
have a semi-oval,
dinally substriated. The lower incisors narrower,
first lower molar tooth relatively larger, the last relatively smaller.
- the intermaxillary part of the skull is higher in proportion
ontracted between the foremost molars, and the
The nasal bones are broader, forming
curved behind, and has the symphysis deeper ;
to the width, and less convex externally ; the palate is less ¢
palatine portion of the intermaxillaries is wider and very concave. der, |
rd of the skull. The interorbital part of the cranium Is much
the whole upper surface of the anterior thi ie
both of which are almost
bital ridge and postorbital processes,
d, as in the last-ementioned animal, by two
surface of the cranium ; and the
broader, and presents a well-marked supraor
obsolete in Phasc. Wombat. The temporal fosse are not bounde
nearly parallel ridges, but are continued by a convex tract to the upper
supratympanic depression 1s much larger.’ ”
This, like most other Australian quadrupeds, form
for the supply at least of the Celestial part of the mixed popul
om the “ Ovens and Murray Advertiser’
alk throug
s an article of food, its flesh bemg brought to market
ation of that country, as will be seen by the
h one of the Chinese camps,
‘elestial butcher who lives in Joss-house-street,
d, tethered to the door-frame, a full-
e one of the bystanders. One
wOAN oo and were attracted
“A Noverry.—We happened a few days ago to W
standing outside the shop of a
ig the assemblage, we
: and hauled about by som
t the animal through
its hair and pinching
over. The act we
1g-song sonorous ‘ yabber
: is group, and observed
that the flesh was
by a crowd of mixed people tae
main encampment. ‘Taking a place amo1 yehe
grown Wombat, which was ever and anon turned
the rest of his fellows, pu
s back, examining
legs, and viewed it all
ecompanied by a su
t of the heterogeneot
and learned
its ‘facings ;’ and after
‘ts sides, he lifted the
is received by his
’ that
Chinaman, more curious than
spending some time in stroking down It
round plump body of the Wombat on its fore
setting them all laughing, a
psided, we moved ou Se
We made imquiry,
countrymen as a capital joke,
we did not understand. When it had sul
on an adjoining table pieces of strange-looking mae a
pieces of Wombat offered for sale by the Chinese victualler.
‘re animal much reduced.
. sal Siz the entire anima
The accompanying Plates represent the head of the natural size, and
race anying res repre
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PHASCOLOMYS LASIORHINUS, Gow.
Hairy-nosed Wombat.
Heab, OF THE SIZE OF LIFE.
Turs full-sized representation of the head of this new and highly interesting species of
Professor M‘Coy,
Wombat has been executed partly from a fine drawing sent to me by
mple now in the Gardens of the Zoological Society.
of Melbourne, and partly from an exa
covered with fine white hairs, through
This living animal exhibits a fleshy muzzle, partially
which the pink flesh-tint shows very conspicuously. Mr. Bartlett, the superintendent, i-
hat, after carefully comparing Professor M‘Coy’s drawing with the Society’s
forms me t
animal, he has no doubt of its 1 example identical m species.
having been made from al
For further particulars respecting the Phascolomys lasiorhinus, the reader is referred to
which will be found in the next
the interesting notes by Mr. Angas and Professor M‘Coy,
page.
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Hairy-nosed Wombat.
THE OO ‘ ea
arrival in this country of. two or three living examples of a speci 1
remarkable character of a hairy muzzle h turall Su i i
j le has naturally excited as much interest < , 1
oe oe a uch interest among our own naturalists as
J one among those of Australia. Both Mr. Angas and Professor M‘
forwarded lengthened papers respecting it fe ication 1 ce eG.
g papers respecting it for publication in the ‘Proceedings of the Zoologi i
of London,’ and both those gentlemen w * opini ' Sa e
Es a se gentlemen were of opinion that the new Wombat was identical with fie
. latifrons of Owen, w 7 years since i i 7
i , who many years since had applied that specific term to a skull in the Museum of the
Ro val Coll Y€ it S rgeons i ly S lr n I 1 2] Is | { of V T S »V fc b 2 celve x n -
7 NT en Pa ee) Re
withstanding what I he C act it f t @ e Ss ( Ss I NS} I side { ld [ . \ as
Q 1ave said im my acco rec YG S; 5 “
Walter dh Cobir, fran
‘ re ON CICY “
ea M‘Coy were commen: in their conclusion, had not one of the animals sent to this country died
eee Smee p Poa of comparing its skull with that in the College Museum above Siedtioned:
5 S ne m¢ ‘ > 7 de | =
ee SS eee ae ee os I believe I am a liberty to say a
ee ; ee ieee , is of opinion that ney could Boe be considered as belonging
ee : a ro these circumstances, r had no alternative but to give the Hairy-nosed Wombat
‘ » specific appellation ; and, at the suggestion of Dr. Sclater, I have assigned to it that of dasiorhinus.
Sepp O IE oD se
x
x marc
& : his Couns however, will not prevent me from giving the remarks of my friends M‘Coy and Angas, which
' indeed will have the more interest as descriptive of this new and extraordinary animal. .
G i have ate says Sue Angas, “bad an opportunity of examining a living full-grown male example of
- a Wombat, in the Botanical Gardens in Adelaide, which, on comparing it with adult specimens of the Tas-
« manian Wombat, I find to be quite distinct from that species.” !
eae E
= ee Hoe ae ol ie latter is very rough and coarse, of a dark grizzly grey; ears quite small, blackish brown
= outside, buns internally ; nose nearly black, and more pointed than that of the former, giving to the face an |
= expression slightly resembling the ‘ Koala,’ whereas the other presents a bold, bull-dog-like aspect from the |
a greater expansion of his face and width of nostrils. The general aspect of P. Wombat is more bear-like:
3 in standing, it arches its back considerably, and does not hold its head so erect; the expression of the eye,
ood-natured twinkle of the South Australian species.
too, is decidedly fierce, and lacks the ¢
lve months since near the Gawler
7
“a «« The specimen in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens was caught some twe
It is kept in an enclosure, wher
tly docile, and never attempts to bite like the
The only sound it emits is
a ball, with
; River, about thirty miles north of Adelaide. e it is secured with a strong
chain and collar to prevent its escape by burrowing ; it is perfec
It is fed on bran and weeds, and drinks freely of water.
a good deal during the day, rolled up almost into
atient of heat and rain, as in its wild
stone districts, and only leaving its
MY
Common Wombat.
a short, quick grunt when annoyed ; it sleeps
tween its fore paws; and appears imp
rge holes in the lime
It is fond of lying on its back like a bear, will
-atches alternately with its fore paws.
ning round, makes a charge at
He runs fast
its flesh-coloured nose buried be
state it is entirely a burrowing animal, living in la
habitation towards dusk for the purpose of obtaining food.
et into the soft ground of its enclosure
hind quarters to the enemy, and, suddenly tur
otherwise it is perfectly harmless.
Although in some parts of
PIAS COLO
burrow three or four fe , and sci
When worried, it presents its
r the purpose of throwing him down ;
for a short distance in a sort of gallop, but soon tires, and is e€
s Peninsula and about Port Lincoln,
Many of the oldest colonists h
ribe two kinds of Wombats: one (evidently
and dark; they also say that
striking resemblance to those
his legs, evidently fo
asily caught.
the colony, especially on Yorke’ the holes of these Wombats are very
but rarely seen. ave informed me that they
The blacks on the Murray dese
low,’ the other as being smaller
numerous, yet the animals are
never saw a Wombat alive.
P. latifrons) they speak of a
heir feet in the sand-tracks leading to their burrows bear a
The flesh they describe as being like pork, and excellent eating. They
count of iets great timidity. The usual plan is to make a screen of
behind which the natives conceal themselves. If not killed on the
utterly impossible to dislodge them.”—Proc. of Zool.
del Ate:
s ‘big yellow fel
HG Richter:
the impressions of t
of the footprints of a young child.
nely difficult to obtain, on ac
ity of their haunts,
heir holes, whence it 1S
I Wall an
are extre!
boughs in the vicin
spot, they will scramble to t
wo
Ge
—
Soc. 1861, pp- 268-271. ae
The following is Professor M«Coy’s account of the animal examined by him in Melbou ne :— ee
a . < V a ? .
«As the description Angas in the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society for June ;
he | ie : it ; and as the first skin of this Wombat could only be
of what he supposed to eee aaa
i f the skull which
‘dentifie Ee : Aen 0 ‘
identified with that species PY ee ets
felt much doubt as to the identity ae
the Acclimatization Society of Melbourne rece
Ss)
3a
given by Mr.
be the living P. latifrons,
ination of the bones
and that of Professor Owen ;
a Wombat from South At
6346
éx
an exam
of his species
ived two specimens of
17
j
Yous
AIOE
H
6
WN I/
ee j iN
ECU SEPT UD —ousaaatquwsitt
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aes
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SS
ania or Victoria, I gladly embraced the opportunity ot determining
C oS fal :
the first time be done from the skin, namely, from an
a description of the external characters of
entirely different species from that of Tasm
the species in the only way in which it could for
am able to furnish
s not noticing the extraordinary character of the
ally be. His differs from mine also in having
examination of the skull; and in this way I
what I believe to be the Phascolomys latifrons. Mr. Anga
5 = r rie Bae av re
hairy muffle, I am quite uncertain as to what his species may re
the feet of the same colour as the body, instead of a rich brown.
i i re quite alike; both were males.
a 70S mens examined were quite alike ; '
ee ae yarrower in proportion ;
i is considerably longer and n
he K at of P. Wombat, but the body 1s consi¢ g
ee aa be confined by a dog-collar round the
Their general size and shape is
the neck is also so much more slender that the animal may easily
ic i on : i ck being nearly
neck, which cannot be done with P. 7 ombat, from the neck being nearly , nee
oportion to the length of the body; the foreheac
as thick as the head. The head,
instead of being broader, is narrower and deeper in pr
is much more elevated across the eyes, forming a very ie i
‘aordinary difference in the character of the head is produced by the great width anc
nose ; but the most ext ice
flatness of the nose, which is covered with dense coarse white hair, and is much wider than high, instead o
obtuse but distinct angle with the line of the
being narrow, black, naked, and longitudinally ovate. Another oe pecuharity 1s ae ee
length of the ears, which are long and elliptically pointed, differing remarkably from the very s jot roundec
ears of P. Wombat. The general outline, too, of P. datifrons Is rendered remarkably different bi the
broad, flat, oblique form of the body behind the crest of the hips, and the hair ea two circular
rosettes on that part, uniting to form a short transverse crest across the back by meeting the ordinary
hair of the back coming down in the opposite direction. The claws are SHaLite ae broader than those
of P. Wombat. The tail, also, instead of being a mere tubercle, is slender and cylindrical.
«The fur is totally unlike the coarse, harsh, densely adpressed fur of P. Wombat, bemg soft, and in
length, texture, and feel resembling more nearly that of an English wild rabbit. It is se on the feet and
toes than on the legs, differing thus from the long bristly covering of due toes of P. Wombat.
«Upper part of head, back, sides, and legs brownish grey; a semicircular spot under the nostrils, one
in front of the eye, a broad spot on the chin, the back of the ears, and the feet dark brown; the crest of the
lower part of the back is dusky brown ; the tail is blackish and naked ; ae under part os ao body is warish
or dull grey, and the sides under the head ochraceous or yellowish ; whiskers black, with a few white hairs ;
hairs on muffle silvery-whitish grey.
«From Mr. Angas omitting to notice the broad, white Aairy mufle, and from the narrowness of the head
and great width of the nostrils, I supposed the species I have above described would prove to be the
Phascolomys platyrhinus of Owen, which seems to have been overlooked by most subsequent writers, but an
examination of the skull proved the above-given description to belong truly to the P. datfrons ; possibly Mr.
Gould and Mr. Angas may have had P. platyrhinus under their eyes.”
It will be remarked that hoth Professor M‘Coy and Mr. Angas consider the animal they respectively
describe to be the true P. /atifrons of Owen; and from an examination of examples received from South
Australia, I have no doubt that the remarks of both gentlemen refer to one and the same animal: the
omission of the hairy muzzle by Mr. Angas may have arisen from the hairs having been eroded in consequence
of confinement, as is the case to a certain extent with the animal in our Gardens. With regard to the P.
olatyrhinus 1 may mention, that on a further examination of the skull in the Museum of the College of
Surgeons to which that name has been applied, it so much resembles several skulls of P. Wombat, that
it is questionable if it be really distinct.
While writing these remarks, another Phascolomys has just arrived at the Zoological Society's Gardens
in the Regent’s Park, which certainly differs from all the rest, its colour being uniform jet-black, even
to the plated bare shield on the nose. It is allied to the P. dasiorhinus in its long pointed ears, which at
once separates it from P. Wombat and the animal I have figured as P. latifrons. For this new species I
propose the name of P. niger. Its native locality is unknown: can it be the dark animal spoken of by the
blacks to Mr. Angas as inhabiting the Murray scrub ?
In concluding these remarks, I must express a hope that mammalogists will adopt the names I have applied
to the four species of Wombat. I admit that there is still some little difficulty as to the identity of the P.
latifrons of Owen, whether it be or be not a species still unknown to us, or whether it be the animal I have
figured under that name. I must also in fairness state that the skull of P. dasiorhinus sent to the Museum of
the Royal College of Surgeons for comparison appeared not to be fully adult ; at the same time it exhibited
so many striking differences from the skull to which the name of P. latifrons w:
as assigned, that no anatomist
would for a moment consider them to be identical ;
and we can scarcely suppose that the progress of age
would produce so great a change in the character of the skull that ultimately they would be alike
My figures were talsen from a d rawing made by Mr. Wolf, from the animal in the Zoological Society’s
Gardens, which was received from South Australia.
73
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