THE ZEBRA WOLF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6916, 30 April 1883, Page 6

THE ZEBRA WOLF.

Bf D» 0. A. Btoorwuix. (BeimUJU AmrrUt m.) Of all the mammalia, non® possess so rnnoh that is interesting and peculiar e* the so-called marsupial# or poached animal*) end except the opossums, strange to say, this class is confined exclusively to Australis, Tasmania, and the isles of the Papuan group. With KanSsroos, petouristos, wombat*, snd “ orsioe evils," we are more let* familiar, through the mediumsbip of zoological gardens, travelling mensgsries, ard the writings of accredited travellers) but the 'I asmenian or zebra wolf is almost unknown, and so far as the writer ha* been able to discover ho* been exhibited in captivity only in a single instance. Two specimen# were obtained by tho Boyal Zooloa cel Gardens of London, England, but quickly died, pining away through confinement, and, perhaps, disease brought on by a two months' sea voyage and change in climate.

The peculiar modification of the nutrient organs that has given rise to the title marsupial (from marsupium, a pouch), is th* peculiar sac provided the females tor the protection of their Immature young. This is developed in a greater or less degree in each ■pedes, but may easily be studied in our common or Virginian opossum, whose chief Blace8 lace in the world seems to be to provide amb* or Ouffy the material for a Christmas dinner, peculiarly bis own. Mind you, Ido rot decry its edible qualities, but would merely suggest it# being far more interesting under the dissecting knife than at the festal board. Examination reveals the pouch to be supported by two elongated bones that project, or arc rather prolonged, from the crest of the hip, and which lie juit beneath the skin and in the same general plane with the back; and within this pouch arc concealed the breasts or mamm.

When the young marsupial is first ushered into the world it is a tiny and helpless being, of such minute size as to be out of all proportion to its parent; even the young of the bush kangaroo, an animal nearly or quite at large as our common deer, being scarcely larger than newly born rats; and they are blind, naked, and even incapable of voluntary movement. As quickly as born the youngling is seized by the lips of the mother and at once conveyed to the interior of her pouch, meantime held open for its reception by her forepaws, and placed upon the breast, to which it at once clings instinctively, not agsin releasing its bold until of considerable size and capable of voluntary exertion—a matter of weeks, sometimes months. Once so placed the little one demands little attention, and to all intents and purposes is as mnoh a part of its parent as during the period of gestation. It would seem to be incapable of again letting go its hold, at the mqsoles of the month at once contract so strongly about the bulbous portion of the nipple that even in death separation is affected only with some difficulty. I have said that the wee maiaupial is incapable of voluntary movement This is so mnoh the case that it has not the power to draw the nourishment from the maternal fount, or even swallow when once its mouth is filled; consequently, the mother is provided with a supernumerary muscle that, passing over the glands, compresses them at her will, forcing the milk directly into the little one's stomach, and at this time, too, Nature has wisely provided to prevent strangulation by elongating the larynx or windpipe to the nasal cavity, so that it is joined to and forms at once a part of the nostrils themselves, thus allowing breathing and feeding to go on simultaneously. When able to feed itself, this prolongation ie gradually absorbed. As the jyonngeter now approaches his more perfect form, his eyes are loosened from their bonds and the tender skin is covered with a coat of hair, and he begins to aot more like the offspring of other animals. Now his month is under control, and he can release himself and feed at will j and in the spirit of curiosity frequently puts his head ont from the sheltering pannier to survey the surrounding world } ana finally ventures therefrom in search of more solid food than that to which he has been accustomed, though still retaining the pouch a* refuge when fatigued, or shelter when threatened with danger. With some animals it is no uncommon affair to find young of different ages occupying the pouch at the same time—some almost ready to he emancipated, the othen weak and imperfect creatures of recent birth.

It if strange that all the mammals of Australasia are marsupials, from the pigmy pitaroo and the haunting phalangen up to the giant kangaroo. To the same class belongs the zebra or Tasmanian wolf, an animal far the most formidable, as it certainly is the most savage of indigenous quadrupeds. Too feeble and cowardly to successfully attack man, it is, nevertheless, a terrible pest, coming serious ravages among all other orea* tures, irrespective of form or habits of life, the wombat alone excepted. No matter how hungry he may be, he will not tench this fat and sluggish marsupial, though, as it sub* silts on fruit alone, it would seem to be most edible. By, no means swift or agile, and sneaking and crawling in habits, the zebra wolf nevertheless manages to kill the kangaroo in defiance of its boasted leap* iag powers and powerful claws of its hind feet, and to secure the ornithorynohus, or common duck bill, in spite of its subterranean borrows and natatory habits. It does not even hesitate to seiis upon and devour the prickly echidna, a much more formidable mouthful than any porcupine j ’ and even prowls the sea share searching for food among the heterogeneous masses flung np by the waves, renewed or added to by each succeeding tide. Shore crabs, which dot the beach in numbers after every flood, are caught with no little dexterity, and mussels and limpets are readily detached from the rocks, while the carcass of a seal or flsh, or the body of a wild i fowl, no matter how oily or fishy, serves as a tidbit. As soon, however, bad civilised man taken up his abode in Tasmania, the wolf became an object of dread, as poultry and domestic animals were never safe from its attacks. The sheep especially became the objects of the settler’s anxious care, for no sooner were they introduced than a most unmistakable appetite was developed for mutton, seemingly preferring the flesh of that useful and easily mastered animal to that of any kangaroo, however venison-like, or bandicoot, howsoever savory. In size this wolf approaches a large setter or Newfoundland dog, averaging perhaps a little more than fire feet in length from snout to tip of tail, the latter appendage claiming a little more than one-third of the measurement! but specimens are sometimes killed that exceed this by holfa-yard j at the shoulders it is some twsnty or twenty-two Inches in height. The feet are protected on their bottoms by rough pads, rad ths tost, of which there are five on the fore feet and but tour on the hinder ones, are all armed with short, straight, powerful claws. The head is very like that of a dog, the muzzle being long, narrow, rad pointed, with a white, grizzled upper Up, sparsely sprinkled with a few black hairs, a few of which also ornament the cheeks rad ridges above the eyes. The ears are sharp, pointed, erect, very broad at their base, rad covered with hair both without rad within ( while the eyes are sharp, full, rad black, and protected with a false or nictitating membrane like (he owl, to shut out the unwelcome light of the sun, for it is nocturnal in habits, rarely venturing out during the day, but hiding in (he reeeeses of the rocks among which it chiefly dwells. Of a general sraylsh-brown hue, mixed with yeuow, handed above with a series of black ■tripes, which beginning at the shoulder diversifies the whole back to the tail, gradually increasing in length on the.baunohes and prolonged on to the thighs, it ii this marking which gives rise to its many names of atbra, hyena, rad tiger wolf. There arc several reasons why the animal is seldom exhibited In captivity. First, they are exceedingly sly and wary, end ore bidden | in decs most difficult of access, where day

light eeldom penetratee, tod where the female bring* forth her young, four *t * litter, re* maioiag with them end mpplled with fowl by her ipott** noth they ere able to cere for themeelv ee. Second, when brought to bey by doge, they fight with incredible fury, end yield only when torn to pieeee. Again, the hatred of the eettlere ii 10 iatenee that eearae •ay reward ie eufitelent to purehai* the life of a eaptared animal. Formerly they were quite prevalent in Tmmania j they would eeem never to bare been known on the continent of Australia, bat by degree* the gone, trope, and poieoned baite of the eettlere have prevailed, rtimulatecl per* hope by tbe boontlee offered i and Che war of extermination hoc waged to fiercely, that the wolvee here been driven from the haunts that once knew them, the few eurvivore being con* fined to the wildest and mo*t Inacoeeiibla region* of the Humboldt Mountain* and Hampshire Hill*.