XIX. An account of some peculiarities in the anatomical structure of the wombat, with observations on the female organs of generation

Abstract

A male wombat was brought from the islands in Basse's Straits, by Mr. Brown, the naturalist attached to Captain Flinders's voyage of discovery. It was entrusted to my care, and lived in a domesticated state for two years, which gave me opportunities of attending to its habits. It burrowed in the ground whenever it had an opportunity, and covered itself in the earth with surprising quickness. It was quiet during the day, but constantly in motion in the night: was very sensible to cold; ate all kinds of vegetables ; but was particularly fond of new hay, which it ate stalk by stalk, taking it into its mouth like a beaver, by small bits at a time. It was not wanting in intelligence, and appeared attached to those to whom it was accustomed, and who were kind to it. When it saw them, it would put up its fore paws on the knee, and when taken up would sleep in the lap. It allowed children to pull and carry it about, and when it bit them did not appear to do it in anger or with violence. It appeared to have arrived at its full growth, weighed about twenty pounds, and was about two feet two inches long.