Natural History: Mammalia/Dasyuridæ
Family II. Dasyuridæ.
(Hairy-tails.)
The most obvious distinction between the animals of this Family and the Opossums, consists in the tail being void of any prehensile power, and being thickly clothed with hair through its whole length. The form of the skull is, however, more dog-like; the canines are larger, more curved and pointed, and the incisors are fewer in number, eight only being found in the upper, and six in the lower jaw. The thumbs of the hind feet are either very small or altogether wanting.
The animals of this Family vary in size from that of a wolf to that of a small mouse: the larger species are fierce and destructive, preying on the sheep and poultry of the settlers. They inhabit New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.
Genus Thylacinus. (Temm.)
In this genus the teeth are thus arranged: inc. 86; can. 1—11—1; false mol. 3—33—3; mol. 4—44—4;46. The incisors in each jaw are disposed semicircularly, with a vacant space in the middle of the number; the external ones are the largest; they are much like those of a dog. The molars also closely resemble the "lacerators" in the true Carnivora. The feet are like those of a dog; the toes are short, naked, and very rough beneath; they are armed with short thick claws, slightly compressed. The thumb or inner toe is entirely wanting on the hind feet, even in the skeleton.
The only known species is the Zebra-wolf of the Australian settlers (Thylacinus cynocephalus, Harris) called also Native Tiger, Native Hyena, and Zebra-Opossum. It nearly equals a wolf in size, and is the largest carnivorous quadruped found wild in New Holland. The head is formed like that of a dog, with rather short, erect ears; the tail is thick at the base, but tapers to the point; it is about half as long as the body; the eyes are large, full, and black; the general colour of the fur is pale yellowish-brown, with numerous black bands across the back and haunches. Specimens occur which measure six feet in length, (including the tail, which is about two feet) and which stand about two feet high.
The Zebra-wolf was first described and figured by Mr. Harris in the Linnæan Transactions, under the name of Didelphys cynocephalus. Of its manners he states,—"It inhabits amongst caverns and rocks
ZEBRA-WOLF.
of the deep and almost impenetrable glens in the neighbourhood of the highest mountainous parts of Van Diemen's Land, where it probably preys on the Brush Kangaroo, and various small animals that abound in those places. That from which [his] description and the drawing accompanying it were taken, was caught in a trap baited with Kangaroo-flesh. It remained alive but a few hours, having received some internal hurt, in securing it. It from time to time uttered a short guttural cry, and appeared exceedingly inactive and stupid; having, like the owl, an almost continual motion of the nictitant membrane of the eye. . . . . In its stomach were found the partly-digested remains of a Porcupine-Ant-eater."[1]
It is said to be still numerous in the more remote parts of the colony, being often caught at Woolworth and the Hampshire hills. It usually attacks sheep in the night, but is also seen occasionally during the day-time, when its pace, probably owing to the imperfection of its sight by day, is very slow.[2]