The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-04-11
The Zebra Wolf.

It is strange that all the mammals Of
Australasia are marsupials, from the
pygmy pitaroo and the hunting phal-
Rngers 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, 1t is, nevertheless o 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; 1t 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 ornithoryn-
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, q much more formidable mouth
full than any porcupine; and even prowls
the sea shore searching for food among
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 q seal or fish, or the body of q 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 un-
nlistakable appetite was developed for
mutton, seemingly preferring the flesh
of that useful and easily mastered animal
to that Of any kangaroo, however veni-
son-like, or bandicoot, however savory.
In size this wolf approaches q large
setter or Newfoundland dog, averaging
perhaps a little more than five feet in
length from snout to tip of tail, the lat
ter appendage claiming a little more
than one-third of the measurements; but
specimens are sometimes killed that ex-
ceed this by half a 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 is very like that of q
dog. the muzzle being long. narrow and
pointed. with white, grizzled upper
lip, sparsely sprinkled with few black
hairs, a few of which also ornament the
II, l,-.I ak Nha Tho
ears are sharp, pointed, erect, very
broad at their base, and covered with
hair both without and within; while the
eyes are sharp, full and black, and pro-
tected with false or nictitating MEM
brane like the owl. to shut out the un-
welcome light of the sun, for il is noe
turnal in habits, rarely venturing out
during the day, but hiding in 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 stripes, 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.
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 a litter, remaining with
them and supplied with food by her
spouse until they are able to care for
themselves. 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 so
intense that scarce any reward is suffi-
cient to purchase the life of a captured
animal.
Formerly they were quite prevalent in
Tasmania; they 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
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.
e. 4. Stockt1eH, in Scientific american.
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