The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-09-09
An UncOmmOnly OisaEreeajfe lit
tie Rc0St.


One OF the most curious and interesting papers
Leaky's account, In 81. PdurS, of the "Tasmanian
Devil" This is q little beast the size of large
bull do., but marsupial, still found in the wids
OF Van Demen's Land. It differs in temper rad
ically from every known beast, and is thus de-
scribed:
"His natural propensities are those of the glut-
tonous or sluggard kind, and he will be quiet
enough when goreed with flesh and left to un-
disturbed repose, but the slightest provocation.
the merest and uuintentional observation will
turn him ut once into vertible iend. He then
becomes instantly the very type of senseless fury,
attacking all before him, dead or living, and fly
ing with equal ferceness at mastif or barn
door. Nor ia there, while life is left 10 him,
flesh remains to tear, or last bone to shstter, he
fights on, regardless Of the number that surround
him. or of his own subsdlng strength, until at
last his jaws snap family aud bis life goes grad
ually out with IN internal snarl. Though taken
young, brought up in captivity, his nature un.
dergoes not the slightest modification. He lives
to the last the same surley life. and usually dies
10 some mad struggle with tho bars of his cage.
After years Of experience he repeats the same
acts of prohtless and exhauSting frenzy.-With.
out apparent motive he rushes at the wall, beat.
ing the air like rabld lunstic, uttering long
grOwls that seem to choke him, till they break
not the slightest 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 be becomes stupid and sleepy, rolls him.
self ap In Q corner, and falls into leaden slum.
Der from which it 10 not Away 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 usu.
ally swallows entirely.
No animal can fight him, and he has repeated.
ly been known to beat off whole troop Of dogs,
and bis insane fury gives him IN inextinguish.
able courage. Mr.. Leakey attacked one with five
dogs, who would have been defeated, but that
one OF them wore an armed collar, and he de-
scribes the aspect of the brute:
with his back to large overhanging stone,
there stood. half-crouched before the dogs, the
most horribe'looking brute imaginable Not
that his contour was villainous, 10 form he re.
sembled badger, but his physiognomy was
literally diabolical, and quite explained and jus.
titled his apparently exaggerated name. What
struck me first WAS the look of saroasm express.
ed BY the drawing down OF tho corners Of the
lips-an expression taken also by the ASS, when
over.tormented. and unable to intimidate Or 9.
cape from its tormentors. His jaws were Just
wide enough apart to reveal his large white
teeth without psrading them, and from bet ween
them Issued continual growl, that seemed to
unwind from a bobin in the throat. But what
most interested me was the animals eyes, TIE
eyes of the wildcat said to be the most savage
looking in nature, but there is about them an ex.
preston of Incorporating ferocity which is
frank and unmistakable.-Such might have been
the eyes o: Marius which disarmed the alright.
cd slave commissioned to execute him in prison.
The eyes Of the sarcophilus are small. black,
leerluu be,ds fraught with design, but close and
impenetrable Such must have been the eyes of
Burke. while hiding the plaster in his hat, and
Watching the frieneless Italian boy from the dark
arches of Great Queen street.