tasmanian tiger

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


called also NativeWolf, Marsupial Wolf, Zebra Wolf, and Hyaena; genus, Thylacinus (q.v.). It is thelargest carnivorous marsupial extant, and is so much like awolf in appearance that it well deserves its vernacular name of Wolf, though now-a-days it is generally called Tiger. There is only one species, Thylacinuscynocephalus, and the settlers have nearly exterminated it,on account of its fierce predatory habits and the damage itinflicts on their flocks. The Tasmanian Government pays L1 forevery one destroyed. The Van Diemen's Land Company in theNorth-West of the Island employs a man on one of its runs whois called the «tiger-catcher.»

1813. `History of New South Wales' (1818), p. 430:

«About Port Dalrymple an animal was discovered which bore someresemblance to the hyena both in shape and fierceness; with awide mouth, strong limbs, sharp claws and a striped skin.Agreeably to the general nature of New South Wales quadrupeds,this animal has a false belly. It may be considered as themost formidable of any which New South Wales has been yet foundto produce, and is very destructive; though there is noinstance of its attacking the human species.»

1832. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 85:

«During our stay a native tiger or hyena bounded from its lairbeneath the rocks.»

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Friends and Foes,' p. 65:

«There is another charming fellow, which all the people herecall the Tiger, but as a tiger is like a great cat, and thisbeast is much more like a dog, you will see how foolish thisname is. I believe naturalists call it the dog-faced opossum,and that is not much better . . . the body is not a bit likethat of an opossum.»

1892. A. Sutherland, `Elementary Geography of BritishColonies,' p. 273:

«The `Tasmanian tiger' is of the size of a shepherd's dog, agaunt yellow creature, with black stripes round the upper partof its body, and with an ugly snout. Found nowhere but inTasmania, and never numerous even there, it is now slowlydisappearing.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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