Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-01
ADisaureeabIe Lit,Ie Renst,


One of the most curious and interesting pa
pers in the English magazines for July is Mr.,
Leakey's account in ST. PauPs of the "Tasma-
man Devil" This is little beast about the
size of a large bulldog, but marsupial, still
found in the wilds of Van Dieman's Land Ii
differs in temper radically from every known
beast, and is thus described:
ellis natural propensties are those of the
gluttonous or sluggish kind, and he will be
quiet enough when gorged with flesh and left to
undisturbed repOse, but the slightest provoca-
ton, the merest and most unintentional OBJ
servation, will turn him at once into veritable
fend. He then becomes instantly the very tyye
of senseless fury, attacking all before him, dead
or living, and flying with equal fierceness at a
mastiff or barn door. Nor is there, while life
is left to him, either truce or quarter; as long
as a shred of flesh remains to tear, or last
bone to shatter, he fights on, regardless of the
numbers that surround him, or of his own
subsiding strength, until at length his
jaws snap family, and his life goes gradually
out with an internal snarl. Though taken
young, and brought up in captivity, his nature
undergoes not the slightest modification. He
lives to the last the same surly life, and usually
dies in some mad struggle with the bars of his
cage. After years of experience he repeats the
same acts of proftless and exhaustiDg frenzy.
Without any apparent motive he rusheS at the
wall, beating the air like rabid lunatic, utter
ing long erowls that seem to choke him, till
they break out suddenly into piercing bark
He shows not the smallest attachment to his
guardians or keepers, whom he menaces and
swears at from the moment they approach him
till they pass completely out of sight. When
tired out or Overfed he becomes stupid and
sleepy, rolls himself up in a corner, and falls
into leaden slumber from which it is not
always easy to rouse him. Nothing can be
cheaper than to feed him. He will be satisfied
for days together with huge bones, which he
cracks up like biscuit, and usually swallows
entirely"
No animal can fight him, and he has repeat
eddy been known to beat off whole troop
OF dogs, and his insane fury gives him an in
extinguishable courage. Mr. Leaky attacked
with five dogs, who would have been defeated,
but that one of them wore an armed collar, and
he described the aspect Of the brute:
with his back to large overhanging stone
there stood, half crouched before the dogs, the
most horrible looking beast imaginable. Not
that his contour was vllainous; in form he re-
Semoied badger, but his "physiogonomy was
literally diabolcal, and quite explained and
justified his apparently exaggerated name.
What struck me first was the look of sarcasm
expressed by the drawing down of the corners
of the lips-an expression taken also by the ass,
when oyer-tormented, and unable 10 intimidate
or escape from his tormentors. His Jaws were
just wide enough apart to reveal his large white
teeth without paradng them and from between
these issued a continuous growl, that seemed TO
unwind from bobbin in his throat. But what
HlOsI arrested INC was tne anlmafS internal
eyes. The eyes of the wildcat are said to be the
most savage looking i'll nature, but there is
about them an expression of uncompromising
ferocity which is frank and unmistakable Such
might have been the eyes of Marius, which
disarmed the affrghted slave commissioned to
execute him in his prison The eyes of the sar-
cophilus are small, black, leering beads, fraught
with design, but close and impenetrabe. Such
must have been the eyes of Burke, while hiding
the plaster in his hat, and watching the friend
less Italian boy from the dark arches Of Great
Queen street."