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[Page 4]
and the other to the mouth. On dividing the cheeks the whole of the tongue is brought into view. It rises thick and fleshy, and has a considerable cushion placed upon its base from which a small tip is projected forwards armed with two teeth - like papillae - this gives the appearance of an oral tongue and, I think may in someway be used as such. The mandibullar portion which is thick and fleshy and covered with long papillae, terminates in an obtuse point within a little way of the point of the under mandible. It is a full inch inch in length with the greater part moveable.
Dr Shaw in his description of the same animal has omitted to take notice of one very striking peculiarity, which is the the difference of the covering of the tail from that of the body. Instead of the very fine fur which covers the body the tail has very strong coarse hair or rather bristles, exceeding the fur in length, and commencing at its root. The tail is broad and oblong, its upper surface convex and its under surface somewhat concave. It possesses considerable thickness and consists solely of fat. The under surface is abraded of its fat hair, the stumps of which only remain, and is very callous. All I could learn of the habits of this animal was that it frequented fresh water creeks and lakes and burrowed in their banks: the natives know no more.
I had the good fortune while we were at King's island to procure two wombats, a male and female, both of which I examined. The male's parts of generation were similar to those of the kanguroo in every thing except the prepuce which was covered with aculeated papillae. The female's parts of generation were strikingly peculiar. On laying open the pelvis I was surprised with the appearance of a double uterus, each portion of