422 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



animal, about the size of a badger, witli rudimentary tail and peculiar 

 feet and teeth. 



We still find the second and third toes bound together, limbs of 

 equal length, and all the five toes of the fore-foot with claws (as in 

 the last family), but the great-toe is represented by a small tubercle, 

 while the cutting teeth are f , growing from persistent pulp through 

 life, as in rats, squirrels, and Guinea-pigs (Fig. 12). 



Fig. 12. Teeth op the Wombat. 



We may now pass to a very different family of animals belonging 

 to the kangaroo's order. We pass, namely, to the Dasyuridce, or 

 family of the native cat, wolf, and devil, so named from their preda- 

 tory or fierce nature. They have well-developed eye-teeth (or canines), 

 and back teeth with sharp cutting blades, or bristling with prickly 

 points. The second and third toes are no longer bound together; and 

 while there are five toes with claws to each fore-foot, the great-toe is 

 either absent altogether or small. The cutting teeth. Fig. 13, are f. 



Fig. 18. Teeth of Dasturus. 



and the tail is long and clothed with hair throughout. Some of these 

 animals are elegantly colored and marked, and all live on animal 

 food. This form (belonging to the typical genus Dasyurus, which 

 gives its name to the family) may be taken as a type ; but two others 

 merit notice. 



The first of these is Myrmecohius^ Fig. 14, from Westei'n Austra- 



Q Q 



lia, remarkable for its number of back teeth, , and for certain geo- 

 graphical and zoological relations, to be shortly referred to. With 

 respect to this creatui-e, Mr. Gilbert has told us : 



