PHASCOLOMYS LASIORHINUS, Gowa

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

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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
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& : 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

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