Identifier: handbooktomarsup00lydekk (find matches)
Title: A hand-book to the marsupialia and monotremata
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915
Subjects: Marsupials Monotremes
Publisher: London : E. Lloyd
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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re found in the male Thylacine,and it should be added that such a rudimental pouch, whichmay be either permanent or transitory, has been detected inthe males of several other Marsupials, most of which belongto the Polyprotodont division of the order. Distribution.—Tasmania. Habits.—Known among the colonists by the names of NativeWolf, Tiger, or Hyaena, the Thylacine was at one time an abun-dant animal in its native island. The damage which it inflictson the flocks of the settlers has, however, given rise to arelentless war of extermination, which has resulted in the al-most complete extinction of this, the largest of the AustralasianCarnivores, in the more settled portions of the country. So like in general appearance to a Wolf is this animal, thatthe name of Tasmanian Wolf might well receive general adop-tion, were it not for the circumstances that the application ofthe name of a placental Mammal to a Marsupial is best, whenpossible, avoided. And on this ground alone we prefer tp
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•AO THE URSINE DASYURES. 153 use an Anglicised form of its scientific designation, as thepopular name of this animal. The Thylacine appears to be generally found among cavernsand rocks in the deep and almost impenetrable glens in theneighbourhood of the highest mountains of Tasmania. Chieflynocturnal in their habits, these animals are dull and inactive onthe rare occasions when they show themselves by daylight,moving with a slow pace, and incessantly blinking from the un-accustomed light. Their cry appears to be limited to a dullguttural growl; and it seems that, unlike Wolves, they neverhunt in packs. Before the introduction of flocks into thecountry, the Thylacine doubtless subsisted mainly on the smallerKangaroos and Wallabies, together with other Marsupials; thefirst known specimen, captured by Harris, having portions of aspiny Anteater in its stomach. Sheep are, however, easieranimals to kill than Kangaroos, and consequently in the moresettled parts of the country the Thylacine

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