Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-06

kind of buffer to project the man of law
from direct contact with his client's
money and in a general way TO secure
the propfietiesuof the profession. - PaD
Mall Gazette. 80 'E1sse7f's4 ssiAEo uoif -isi
ri .l:-s- The Zebra Wolf. tni III
II is strange that all the mammals OF
Australasia are marsupials, from the
pygmy pitaroo and the hunting phal-
angers up to the giant kangaroo. To
the same class belongs the zebra or Tas-
manian wolf, an animal far the most
formidable, as it certainly is tie most
savage of indigenous quadrupais.g Too
feeble and cowanily to successfully at
tack man., it is, nevertheless a terrible
pest, committing serious ravaoeS among
all other creatures, irrespective Of form
or .habnts of life, the wombat alone ex-
cepted. No matter how hungry he may
be, he will not touch this fat and slug-
giSh marsupial, though, as it subsists on
fruit alone; it would seem to be most
edible. BY no means swift or agile, and
sneaking and crawling habits, the zebra
wolf nevertheless manages to kill the
kangaroo in defiance of its boosted leap
ing powers and powerful claws Of its
hind feet, and to secure the orr ithoryn.
chus, or common duck bill, in spite of its
subterranean burrows and natatory
habits 1t does not even hesitate to
seize upon and devour the pricklv
echidna, amuch more formidable mouth
ful than any porcupine; and even prowls'
the sea shore searching for. food among
the heterogeneo masses flung up by the
waves, renewed or added to BY each sue
ceeding tide. Shore crabs, which dot
the beach in numbers after every flood,
are caught with no little dexterity, and
mussels and limpets are readily de.
tached from the rocks, while the carcass
OF seal or fish. or the body of a wild
fowl, no matter how oily or fishy, serves
as Tibet. AS quickly, however, had
civilized man taken up his abode in Tas-
mania, the wolf became an object of
Dread as poultry and domestic animals
were never safe from its attacks. The
sheep especiallySbecame the objects oil
the settlers anxious care, for no sooner
were they introduced than the most un-
mistakable appetite was developed for
mutton, seemingly preferring the flesh
of that usefulan easily mastered animal
to that of any kangaroo, however veni-
son-like. or bandicOot, however savory.
In size this wolf approaches a large
setter or Newfoundland dog, averaging
perhaps a little more than, five feet in
length from snout toitip Of tail, the lat
ter appendage claimiDgra little more
than one-third Of the measurements; hut
specimens are sometimes killed that ex-
coed this by half IL yard at the shoulders
Q nJsf tu- tax- 1Al,o
in height. The feet are protected on
their bottoms by rough pads, and the
toes, of which there are five on the fore
feet and but four 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 and
pointed, with a white, grizzled upper
lip, sparsely sprinkled with few black
hairs, few of which also ornament the
cheeks and ridges above the eyes. The
ears are sharp, pointed, erect, very
broad at their base, and covered with
hsrr bothwithout and within; while the
eyes are sharp full and black, and pro-
tected with a false or nictitating men,
brane like the owl, to shut out the un-
welcome light of the sun, for il is noe
turnal N habits, rarely Venturing out
during the day, but hiding in the recesses
of the rocks among which it chiefly
dwells. Ola general grayish-brown
hue, mixed with yellow. banded above
with . series of black strires, which be-
ginning at the shoulder diverSifies the
whole back to the tail, gradually increas-
ing in length on the launches and pro-
longed on to the thighs, it is this mark
ing which gives rise to its many names
of zebra, hyena and tiger wolf.
d, There are several reasons why the ami
NAL is seldom exhibited lin captivity.
First, they are exceedingly shy and wary
and are hidden in dens most difficult of
access, where daylight seldom penetrates
and where the female brings forth hel
young. four at litter. remaining with
them and supplied with food 10y her
| spouse until they are able to care for
themselves. Second, when brought tc
bay by dogs, they fight with incredible
fury, and yield only when torn in pieces.
Again, the hatred OF the settlers is SO
intense that scarce any reward is suffi-
Gent tOpurchase the life of captured
animal. sal.
| Formerly they were quite prevalent in
Tasmania; they would seem never tG
have been known on the continent OF
Australia, but by'degrees the guns, traps
and poisoned bats of the settlers. have
prevailed! stimulated perhaps by the
bounties offered, and the war OF extermi-
nation has waged so fiercely that the
wolves have been driven from the haunts
that once knew them. the few survivors
being confined to the widest and most
inaccessible regions of the Humboldt
Mountains and Hampshire Hills. DR..
T.. Il. StochsoelI, ts Scientific Apaesfcdsa.