to numerous places in Victoria, more particularly in the volcanic tracts, where the earth is easily penetrated. In the Western district, before the whites invaded it, he had a wide territory. Near the extinct volcanoes are beds of ash, and in these the wombat-holes were at one time thickly inhabited. Now, one sees a wombat—in the vicinity of numberless holes—rarely; and it may be presumed that the white man and his dogs and his guns are responsible for the diminution of the numbers.
In the Life and Adventures of William Buckley a very good account is given of the method employed by the natives to capture the wombat.
Buckley says:—"They [the wombats] live in holes in the earth, of about twenty feet long and from ten to twenty deep, in an oblique direction, burrowing in them like the mole. When well cooked they are good eating. . . . . The natives take these creatures by sending a boy or girl into their burrows, which they enter feet first, creeping in backwards until they touch the animal. Having discovered the lair, they call out as loud as they can, beating the ground overhead, whilst those above are carefully listening, their ears being pressed close to the earth. By this plan of operations they are enabled to tell with great precision where they are. A perpendicular hole is then made, so as to strike the extremity of the burrow; and having done this, they dig away with sharp sticks, lifting the mould out in baskets. The poor things are easily killed, for they make no resistance to these intrusions on their haunts. There is, however, a good deal of difficulty in making these holes, and in getting down so deep to them—so that it is a sort of hunting for food of which the natives are not very fond."
The wombat, Eyre states, is driven to his hole with dogs at night, and a fire being lighted inside, the mouth is closed with stones and earth. The animal being by this means suffocated, is dug out at convenience.[1]
The wombat is roasted in his skin, and is said to afford most excellent meat.
It is believed that this creature could be easily domesticated.
The wombats of Victoria weigh as much as seventy pounds.
Native Bear.
The native bear (Phascolarctos cinereus)—Koola (Gippsland), Koob-boor, Karbor, or Kur-bo-roo (Yarra)—is arboreal in its habits, and is easily taken from the trees. If he is found on the ground, he commences to climb as soon as he sees an intruder, and utters a kind of growl as he rather slowly ascends, stopping and looking back rather anxiously from time to time, and apparently disinclined to take more exertion than is absolutely necessary for his safety. At Monkey Creek, in eastern Gippsland, these animals are very numerous. One morning I saw as many as five at one spot. One was apparently asleep at the side of the track, and I went close to him and tickled his ear with my riding-rod. He was pleased at first, but suddenly opening his eyes and seeing me, he shuffled
- ↑ Journal of Expeditions, vol. II., p. 284.
