MARSUPIALS. 55 



ARMADILLOS. 



The word Armadillo means clad in armor, and is 

 given "to these animals on account of their bony or 

 horny covering. They live in the warm and hot parts 



Fig. 96. Nine-banded Armadillo. 



of America, dig burrows, and feed upon vegetables, in- 

 sects, and worms. The Nine-banded Armadillo is about 

 two feet long, and is found as far north as Texas. 



MARSUPIALS. 



The Marsupials have a pouch, or sack, beneath the 

 body, in which the young are kept for a time after they 

 are born, and even after they are able to walk they re- 

 sort to the pouch of the mother when danger is near. 

 With the exception of the Opossums of America, all the 

 Marsupials are found in Australia. 



OPOSSUMS. 



Opossums are small animals, the 

 largest being scarcely larger than the 

 common cat, and the smallest but 

 little larger than a mouse. They 

 feed upon birds, bird's eggs, insects, 

 and other small animals. The tail 

 is long and is capable of being 

 twisted around objects, thus aiding 

 in climbing. The Opossum of the 

 United States is about the size of a 

 cat, the hair whitish with brown tips. rig. 97. Opossum. 



