eater. It is a
mole-like quadruped, with a large bill like a duck's. It spends most of
its time in the water, but lives in a burrow on the shore. Its feet are
very curious, as they can be changed at the pleasure of their owner.
When in the water they are webbed like a duck's, but if the creature
comes on shore, the web shrinks, and leaves long sharp claws ready for
burrowing.

There is also a small, clumsy, inoffensive animal called the wombat,
which is never found outside of these Australian regions. Its head
resembles that of a badger. It has very small eyes, short legs, and its
fat, squab body is covered with coarse gray hair. It lives in rocky
places and mountain gullies, and feeds on the roots of plants. It is
easily tamed, and makes a very affectionate pet. Some English children
living in Tasmania once had a pet wombat. It became so mischievous,
however, that they determined to carry it back to its native forest. But
the wombat having tasted the comforts of civilized life, had no desire
to dig for its living again. Three times it was carried away, the last
time to a wood beyond a deep river; but every time, when night came, a
well-known scratching was heard at the door, and the wombat presented
itself, drenched and weary, but determined not to suffer banishment from
its comfortable home. Its master, touched by so much attachment, at
length allowed it to remain, and it passed the rest of its days in
peace.

The kangaroo-rat and kangaroo-mouse, the opossum-mouse, the flying
opossum, and some other odd little creatures, inhabit Tasmania. They are
all marsupials, having a pouch for their little ones, and jumping on
their hind-feet like a kangaroo.

An enormous bird is found in the Australian countries, called the emu.
In its habits and general appearance it resembles the ostrich, although
it does not possess the exquisite plumage of that bird. The long
drooping feathers of the emu are brownish-black in color, and covered
with hairy fibres. A full-grown bird is five or six feet in height. It
never flies, but, like the ostrich, is a very swift runner, and as it is
very shy, is difficult to capture. Its nest is a hole scraped in the
ground, where it lays six or seven dark green eggs. Emus are much hunted
by the Bushmen, as a fine clear oil is prepared from the skin, which is
highly prized for its medicinal qualities.

Many varieties of remarkable and beautiful birds are found in Australia
and Tasmania: the lyre-bird