Janis Smith, age 13, of St. Albans, W. Va., for her question;
What is a Tasmanian ,devil
A t one time, he roamed over most of Australia and the nearby islands. But as the settlers advanced, he was driven back because he was a nuisance to the sheep and the chickens. Now the Tasmanian devil survives only in Tastania, and even there he is very rare.
The fisrce little animal looks rather like a three foot black bear cub, plus a foot of furry tail. His bulky head and powerful shoulders seem too big for his rather weak hindquarters. But his strong jaw muscles, teeth and shoulders make it possible for him to attack animals much bigger than himself. His rough coat is jet blank with blotches of white on the throat, shoulders and rump.
The Tasmanian devil is one of the few meat eating marsupials. Mrs. Devil caprie s her babies in a pouch. This type of baby care is fashionable in Australia and the nearby islands. Mrs. Kangaroo, Mrs. Wallaby and Mrs. Koala also carry their babies in pouches, which is why they are called marsupials.
Most marsupials feed on greenery, but the Tasmanian devil is a hungry meat eater, always prowling for food. His favorite hunting grounds are along the brinks of streams and rivers. There he searches out rats, mice and frogs. He often crunches a crusty crab in his powerful jaws. When this food is scarce, the black devil raids the sheep folds and chicken coops which is one reason why the settlers gave him such a strange name.
Another reason is his blood curdling yell. Mr. Devil often hunts by night. From time to time he pauses in his prowling to let out a long snarling yell, ending with a throaty cough. If you happen to be out at night in devil country, you might find this sound rather spooky.
The baby devils are born in May and spend a month in Mama's fur¬lined pouch. They are then too big to be carried around and their mother builds them a nest of grasses, safely hidden in the rocks. Soon the little devils are big enough to explore the world. Mamma takes them on hunting trips and teaches them how proper devils should behave.
Actually, the Tasmanian devil is not so black as he is painted. He is a fierce hunter because he needs meat. He raids the farmer's sheep and chickens because his natural food is scarce. And this wild life was made scarce by the farmers who settled the land.
When a little devil is captured as a kitten,, he becomes a darling pet. With no hunting problems on his mind, he is a friendly character and full of fun. He is a very loving animal and his owners take great pleasure in watching him wash. He begins by sitting up on his hunches and licking his two little hands. He then cups them together and scrubs his face and head. And the clean little pet does not forget to wash behind his ears or the back of his black furry neck.