Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05
THE RICHMOND DIsPArCH-sUNDAY. JANUARY 5. 1896

need more than passing reference. nc
progress or settlement has driven .hee,
animals from the more densely popuiatcu
parts Of the colony, but In the county,
districts they are still numerous ehousn
TO cause very considerable da<nage 10 w
natural grasses. SO serious mas Deeh 'i'e
injury thus wrought that the state Gnu
run-holders pay small sum per nead ~.
the destruction OF these aniinais' i"e
great black kangaroo is the iinest speci-
men Of Australian animal lie, and at
tains @ height OF feet, whsie sone
species are so small as easily to nestle IN
the pocket OF an oyercoat. Inc fanny
phascolmyidae is represented by the
wombat. that OF the perameiidae by the
bandicoot and the rabbit rat. one or the
most numerous families OF marsupials IN
New South VALE, the members or WHICH
are TO be found all over the colony, IS the
phalangistidae, which includes seVeral
varieties of opossums, flying squiriels,
and koalas or native bears. The tails OF
the first group are prehensile those OF
the second, though Ions, are not so; "hiie
the native bear is a sloth-.ike animal very
different from the other phaiangeIs'
There are three varieties OF native cats
all very handsomely marked. Ihey are
nocturnal in their habits. incapable OF
domestcatiOn, and prey upon pirds anu
small mammals. The Tasmanian tiger, or
wolf Is the largest Of the dasyuIfdae. In
past ages this animal was an inhabitant
OF Australia. and the fossil bones OF
thylacinus. or punched hyena, have been
found In the Wellington caves, and also
in those of the Murrumbdgee. The order
monotremata Is peculiar TO Australia ana
the islands OF the Malay archip 2lago. IL
forms a connecting link between man.
mas, birds, and reptiles. Originally
cassed with the marsupialia, the diifer-
ence between the monotremes ana that
order was so considerable that II was
found advisable TO classify them sepa-
rately; for. although the marsupial bones
are present. the pouch is said to be
wanting I'm the platypus. and found only
in the echidna when she has eggs or
young; there are also differences be-
tween the brains and skeletons Of the
marsupialia and monotremata. Bones or
Il very large fossil echidna have been
found i'm the Wellington caves. The duck
billed platypus, called by the abOrigines
"mallangoug," or "tambrcet." is undJubt-
cdly the most curious and interesting OF
all the animals 10 be found in Australia.
Billed and web-footed like a duck, the
fore-feet are furnished also with claws
for burrowing. and it has eight horny
teeth. It's fur is short and Yevety II
burrows like an otter, and makes its
nest in the holes it excavates along the
banks OF rivers. IL feeds on larbae and
minute aquatic animals, which II finds
IN the water and I'm the mud; and grows
20 about eighteen inches in length. IN
oviparous mammal, It's eggs are menu
braneOus. and might be mistaken for
those laid by reptiles. The Australian
pOrcuDine IS about the size of the piaty-
pus which II resembles also in most OF
its internal structure. II is covered with
s1ines. like porcupine, with coarse
hair intermngled. This monotreme IL
not poisonous, although II has been er-
roneously supposed otherwise. Australia
Is distinctly the land Of tho marsu-
pals and the mOuo'rcmes, yet ncverthe-
less other mammalians find a small rep
rcsentation. There are no ruminants.
or pachydorms. and the most highly
organized placentals are feebly repre-
sented by a species of dog, a few seals
many species Of bats, and numerous
rodents. or rats The dog family Is rep
resented by the dingo. or native dog
although the real native dog IS called
by the aborig'nes "worregai," dingo be-
ing only an aboriginal name for the do
nestle dog introduced by Europeans.
The native dog is found In all parts Of
the Australian mainland, and viii in
breed with the domestic dog. The dingo
does not bark. and, according TO DR..
George Bennett II is allied to the wild
dog Of India, and may probably have
been introduced by the Malays some
centuries ago. Great destruction has
been wrought amongst tho fiocks OF the
settlers by these animals. and price
IL paid for every native dog destroyed.
Flying foxes are exceedingly numerous
and destructive. There are also numer-
Gus varieties OF cats.