In their general form and actions the Wombats resemble small bears, having a somewhat similar shuffling manner of walking, but they are still shorter in the legs, and have broader, flatter backs than bears. They live entirely on the ground, or in burrows or holes among rocks, never climbing trees, and feed entirely on grass, roots, and other vegetable substances. They sleep during the day, and wander forth at night in search of food, and are shy and gentle in their habits generally, though they can bite strongly when provoked. The only noise the common wombat makes is a low kind of hissing, but the Hairy-nosed Wombat is said to emit a short quick grunt when annoyed. The prevailing colour of the last-named species, as well as of _P. ursinus_ of Tasmania, is a brownish gray. The large wombat of the mainland is very variable in colour, some individuals being found of a pale yellowish brown, others dark gray, and some quite black. The length of head and body is about three feet. It is noteworthy that _P. mitchelli_ was first described from the evidence of fossil remains, the living form subsequently described as _P. platyrhinus_ being found to be indistinguishable. Other extinct species occur in the Pleistocene of Australia. _Phascolonus._[53]—Remains of a large extinct Wombat, which must have nearly equalled the dimensions of a Tapir, occur in the Pleistocene of Queensland, and have been described as _Phascolonus_. It is probable that the expanded and flattened upper incisors from the same deposits upon the evidence of which the presumed genus _Sceparnodon_ was founded, are likewise referable to the same form. The characters of both the upper and lower incisors distinguish _Phascolonus_ from _Phascolomys_. _Family_ PHALANGERIDÆ.