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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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