The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-30
The Zebra Wolf.


Australasia are marsupials, from the,
pygmy pitaroo and the hunting phal--
Anglers 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 the most
savage of indigenous quadrupeds. Too,
feeble and cowardly to successfully at
tack man, it is, nevertheless q terrible
pest, committing serious ravages among
all other creatures, irrespective of form
or habits 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 boasted leap
ing powers and powerful claws of its
hind feet, and to secure the oruithoryn-
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 prickly
echidna, much more formidable mouth
full than any porcupine; and even prowls-
the sea shore searching for food among
the heterogeneous 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 tishy, 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 especially became the objects Of
the settlers anxious care, for no sooner
were they introduced than the most I'M
mistakable appetite was developed for
mutton, seemingly preferring the flesh
of that useful and easily mastered animal
to that of any kangaroo, however, yeni-
son-like, or bandicoot, however savory.
In size this wolf approaches 'aSlarge
setter or Newfoundland dog, averaging
perhaps little more than five feet in
length from snout to tip of tail, the lat
ter appendage claiming o little more.
than one third of the Measurement; but
specimens are sometimes killed that ex-
coed this by half yard; at the shoulders
it is some twenty or twenty-five inches
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 isvery like that of a
dog, the muzzle being long, narrow and
pointed, with a white, grizzled upper
lip, sparsely sprinkled with few black
hairs, q few of which also ornament the
cheeks and ridges above the eyes The
ears are sharp. pointed; erect, livery
broad at their base, and covered with
h:Sr both without and within; while the
eyes are sharp full and black, and pro-
tected with a false or nictitating mem
brane like the owl. 70 shut out the I'M
welcome. light of the sun, for it is noe
turnal in habits, rarely .venturfng out
during the day, but hidingin the recesses
of the rocks among which it chiefly
dwells. Of general grayish-brown
hue. mixed with yellow, banded above
with a series of black strires, which be-
ginning at the shoulder diSEsifes the
whole backto thefail, gfaduaily increas-
ing in length Cd the haunches- 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.
There are several reasons why the ami
NAL is seldom exhibited in 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 her
young. four at litter, remaining with
them and supplied with food by her
spouse until they are able to care for
Second, when brought to
bay by dogs, they fight with incredible
fury. and yield only when torn in pieces.
Again, the hatred of the settlers is sc
intense that scarce any reward is suffi-
cient to purchase the life of captured
animal.
Formerly they were quite prevalentiD
Tasmania; Aey would seem never to
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
oounties offered, and the war of extermi-
nation has, waged so fiercely that the
wolves have been driven from the haunts
hat once knew them, the few survivors
,eing confined to the widest and most
inaccessible regions of the Humboldt
Mountains and Hampshire Hills.-Dr.
z. 4. Stocka0eU, in Scientific American