The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-05-07
REMARKABLE ANIMALS.
THE STRANGE SPECIMENS TO BE FOUND
~ AUSTRALIA, AND TASSiANIh OR
VAN DIEMEN's LAND.


Australia and Tasmania possess many
specimens Of strange animal life even
in the latter. OF Van Diemen's Land
are found several species which exist
only ON that small bit of the earth S sur
face Tasmania. which IS separated
from the southern extremity ot Au-ita-
liza by q strait about one hundred ana
forty miles boo Width. was first discover
ed iu fag. hg Able Iasmau, famous
Dutch uayIsafUI. Who supposed 10 20 re
"a port Iau al a Australia, then known As
New Holland. The celebrated Captain
Cook visited one hundred aud uity
wears later lut DO was NOT until about
I-.f4 t.Hru Captain Flinders, exploring
fF. s.~.Earr coast 90 Australia. di-cuy-
,r.I tla STRAIT. that Tasmania was
know. to De- al island As Nj. Bass,
SURGEON uf llir.ti-l ship which had Cruis-
- u tIlH waters. hal already Affirm
ti That such strait existed, Captain
Flinders Uauli IL Bass strait IN his hon
or.
st the beginning Of this century a
few tribes OF natives were the sole hui
mau inhabitants ~ Tasmania, but about
l~u3 O. party of English military, with a
gang OF cUuyiCts under their charge,
came from New South Wales and form
ed settlement, which is now a flourish
ing English town called Hobart Town.
!Sheup-raisiug is now the principal indus
try OF this island, and large exports Of
wool are made yearly.
The scenery of Tasmania is very pic
turcsquc. Grand basaltic headlands
tower along the coast, while inland are
lofty mountains, broad lakes, uDtrodden
junglc5. and wide-spreading plains COW
cred with rich and luXuTiant vegetation.
Australia and Tasmania are the resi-
deucc OF the curious family Of animals
with pouches. called AaTsupialia- from
saar,lfpilnu. signifying a purse or bag.
One variety OF this species, the Op0ssum,
Is found in the United States, and a few
live in South America and Mexico, but
in the Australian regions are more than
seventy different kinds Of these singular
creatures The leader OF them all is the
great kangaroo. which stands about five
feet high when resting upon its hind
feet and launches. When running it
springs from the ground in an erect posi-
tiOn, holding it, short, fore-arms tight
to its chest, like a professional runner,
and it VIII go as far as sixteen feet at
one jump. From twenty TO thirty spe-
cies Of kaugarOo5 are found il Australia
and the surrounding islanps.
A member of the harsupialia family
which does not exist out of the small is
land OF Tasmania is the zebra wolf, the
most savage and destructive Of all the
marsupiaIs This farOciOus beast IS
about the size Of the largest kind Of
shccp-dOg. It's short fur is OF = yellow
jsh-brOWn color, and its back and sides
ymarkedWit ith black stripes.
1t is a fleet runner, prOpclIing itself with
its hind legs, which are jOinted like
those of q kangaroo, although il goes on
all fOurs. Its gait is u succession OF
quick sprinss-a peculiarly Of nearly
ali the animals OF Tasmania.
The zebrJ-WOf is very troublesome
to the Sheep-raising farmers. and con-
slant watch IS required 20 prevent lis
depredatiOns on the lJcks ana herds
II iUhabits caveTus and rocks in the
deep and almost iIlpeuetTaUle glens in
this neighbuTngod Ok the high mountain
ranges, from whence il saliicS forth at
night TO scour the great grassy plains in
search OF food. Il prey5 on.the brush
kangaroo, this great cms and any small
biTds or beasts it can capture.
Another strange beast is the pOrcupine
Ent-eStar, or 1asmauia hedgehog. 1t is
much larger than the English hedgehog,
and cannot roll itself into a ball. Its
back i covered with very stout sDiues
prOtTudEg from coat of thick grey fur.
and in place OF mouth il has q round
bill about two inches long. One of
these strange creatures was once presen-
ted TO an English lady living at Hobart
Town. For safety she placed it at the
bottom of q wooden churu until better
lodgings could be provided. shortly af-
ter, OH going to look at her captive, she
found it Cliu@ing by its long claws to
the top Of the chUru. with its funny lit
NTt Trr. q .r..4- l.
indescr!huU.y drulI expression TO its
queer pursgdHp face, while its bright
eyes PeeTcd Tcstlts5ly about from their
furry hooks, There was something 50
pitiiul. pleading and helpless in the ex-
preston Of the little creature. that the
lady, fearing she could not make it hap
py IN captivity, ut once set il free in her
garden. 4 Immediately began to bur
row, casting mp q circular ridge Of earth.
beneath which in moment it vanished,
and never was seen again.
The duck-5i.I is . near kinsman of
the p0rcupIno aat-eateT. 1t is a mole
like qJadTuucd, with = billlike duck s
but Il the creature comes on shore. the
web shrInhs, and leaves long sharp claws
ready for burr0WiuE.
There is. also, q small. clumsy, inof-
fensive animal, called the wOmbat.
Australian regions. Its head resembles
thas OF badger. 1t has very small
eyes, short les, and its fat. squab body
is covered with coarse grey hair. 1t
lives III rocky places and mountain gull
les, and feeds ON the roots OF plants 1t
Is easily tanned. and makes a very affec-
tiOnate pet. Some English children Iiv-
ing IN Tasmania once had . pet wOmbat
1t became 50 mischievOUs. however. that
they determined to carry it back 20 its
native forest. But Che Wombat- having
tasted the comforts OF civilized life, had
no desire to dig for It's living again.
Three times 1t was carried away. The
ias- time ~ q wood beyond "a deep river:
buteveTy time when night came. u we'll
known scratching was heard at the door.
and the WOmbaJ presented itself. drtnch-
Ell and weary, but determined not TO
suffer Punishment from its comfortable
home. It's master. touched 10y So much
attachment. q, length allowed it to re-
main, and il passed he les, of its davs
in peace.
The kauEaroo-rat and dkangaroc-nouse
the OppossuW-M0usC. the flying Opuos-
sum, and some other odd little Great I!gcz.
nhabit Tasmania. They are All mar
sup.dis, having Il pouch for their little
ones, and jumping on their hind feet like
a kangaroo.
An enormous bird is found i'm the
Australian countries. called the emu.
In its habits and general appearance it
resembles tho ostrich. although it does
not possess the exquisite pIumare Of
that bird. The long, dropping feathers
Of the emu are brJwuish-black in color,
and covered with hairy fbres \ full
grown DIT1 is five or six feet In IgirIt