Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-11-11
AUsTRALIA,s BLIND MARSUPIAL
In Some Respects He rs Entirely
Unique in the animal Kingdom.

In Some Respects He Is Entirely
Unique In the Animal Kingdom.
from the Saturday Review
1t was reported little time ago in some
of our newspapers that during Lord Kin |
torres journey across the island-Austra- |
lisns say the continent-from the north |
tralia, to Adelaide, very singular marsu- |
pial was discovered. There was very lit |
tie more about it, and fully detailed ac-
count has been looked for with interest
That account is TO be found in the Tran
sections OF the Royal society of South
Australia DR.. Stirling, who accompanied
the governor in his long ride, is no doubt
an excellent naturalist, and has spared no
pains in dissecting the strange animal and
counting ali it's teeth and bones.
DIR. Stirling calls 1t Motorcycles typhlops
and proposed at first to call 1t something
nearly as long again, but found he was
forestalled, as some presumably still small
er animal already bore that appellstion.
DIR. Stirling, having named his beast, pro-
ceeds to tell us how he encountered him.
| 1t seems that he was first observed by a
Mr.. Bishop at place almost in the center
of Australia called Idracowra. Subse-
| quently another gentleman, Mr.. Benhsm,
| forwarded a specimen TO Adelaide, where
it was received by the learned with much
curiosity. Finally DR.. Stirling, in comps-
ny with Lord Kintore, passed near Idra-
| cowra-how near we do not know; but five
or ak hundred miles is near in Australia.
and Mr.. Benhsm brought a specimen or
two to meet him, aud, what is almost ss
| important, brought also a description of
| one which lived measurable time in cap
| tivity, but appears to have died of fright
| in a thunder storm. Furthermore, there
i was an account of one which burrowed its
| way underground with such rspidity as to
elude the most instant and careful search
| Lastly the native name was acquired, Dor
ouamate, and the fact that the creature is
regarded by the blacks with superstitious
| awe.
1t is well known, of course. that, be-
sides the marsupisls with which we are
best acquainted, such as the ksngaroos
and wallabies, Australia boasts of animals
which resemble squirrels of them
very closely; of others which are, both In
appearance and morals, very like wolves,
but striped like tigers; of bears, which
have acquired such a character that they
are locally known as dis. Other gu, z
forms there be, but the Motorcycles sur
passes them all, for he is msrsupial mole.
One reason he has not been discovered
sooner is that during the greater part of
his life he is underground. And this fact
also accounts for the most extraordinary
feature described by DIR. Stirling, who
mentions it quite incidentally, and as If 1t
is not the most wonderful feature among
all the wonderful features of the Austria
liam marsupials 1t is absolutely blind.
Mature, when she made the face, forgot
| to dot the eyes"
Rudimentary eyeballs may be found. as
in the Adelsburg Proteus, by dissection.
but they are unconnected with the optic
nerve, which also exists in a rudime ntary
stage. No other qusdruped is known to
possess this popularity. Otherwise Noto-
ryctes somewhat resembles a mole, but his
hair is longer and sandy in color.
There Is one thing more to be noted
about the sand mole. We have spoken of
it as a marsupial. If any one looks at q
kangaroo he can see that the pouch is In
front, and, especially when it is occupied,
hangs well, and rather loosely, open. Now
| if we could imagine that it was the habit
of the kangaroo to discard the use OF legs,
I | to go about upon that part of ite person
l where the pouch is found, and to use Its
nose for burrowing into loose sand heaps,
, It does not require much imagination to
: show that the pouch must always be scrap,
9 ing up sand, to the great Inconvenience OF
< the occupant: but the pouch of the Norto-
| ryctes is turned the other way up. The
| parent mole may scTape along as 1t pleasesi
| with it's horny nose and its digging claws
through all Its sandy burrows, and not &
l. grain need enter the pouch. We mus
o hope, before long, to have better accounts
~ and possibly specimen or two, OF thil
singular animal.