Description of a Tasmanian tiger received by Banks from William Paterson, 20 March 1805 (Series 27.33) - No. 0001

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Although the whole of the Natural productions of New Holland as well as the Islands Adjacent commencing with the Human Race and descending to the most Minute Animal, appear with Characters of perfect Contra-distinction to those of any other Country on the Globe, yet the Animal I am now on the point of describing is the most singular and certainly the only powerful of the Carniverous and Voracious Tribe hitherto discovered in this Austral part of the world.

He was killed by some dogs belonging to the Surgeon, immediately contiguous to the Settlement on a Hill which I have Named in the Chart Mount Albany.

It is very evident he is distructive and lives entirely on Animal Food, for on dissection I found the Stomach was filled with a Quantity of Kangaro Weighing Five Pounds, and the Weight of the whole Animal was Forty-five.  From its internal Structure it must be a Brute of peculiarly quick digestion, and the parts of Generation (which I have preserved in spirits accompanying this) are of a most extraordinary formation.

Description of an hitherto unknown Animal killed the 30th March 1805 Mount Albany, Yorkton [York Town] Port Dalrymple.