THE OPOSSUM 55 



similar characters which must have arisen independently. 

 If. they are not so specially connected, then similar and 

 extremely exceptional characters of the foot must have 



arisen independently. 



FIG. 14. 



THE CH^ROPUS. 



But the structure of these curious feet teaches us yet 

 another lesson. It cannot be supposed that the minute 

 differences which exist between the second and third and 

 fourth and fifth toes of the wombat are of vital im- 



