V. THE POUCHED ANIMALS 



In passing the entire animal kingdom in review we note 

 many animals which have pouches, as the echinus, the sea- 

 horse, several toads, some of the penguins, the spiny ant- 

 eater, and others. All these, however, differ from the large 

 and singular group of animals called marsupials, which 

 have a very perfect pouch on the lower or ventral side, 

 where the immature young are placed and kept and nursed 

 until they are large enough to care for themselves. 



The kangaroo (Fig. 28) is the highest type of this form, 

 the pouch being so large that the young seek refuge in it 

 long after they can care for themselves. It is an amusing 

 sight to see them when alarmed plunge into this recep- 

 tacle, turning quickly and thrusting out their little heads 

 to see what the disturbance is about. 



The kangaroos are among the most interesting of all 

 animals. Some are six feet in height, and all have a re- 

 markable development of the hind legs by which they 

 can leap enormous distances, literally flinging themselves 

 through the air. A kangaroo has been known to leap 

 over a horse and rider, and the hare kangaroo, which is 

 only twenty inches in length, has been seen to leap over a 

 man's head. The hind legs of the large kangaroos (Fig. 29) 

 are their weapons of defense. These have three toes, 

 the middle one being very long and armed with a sharp 

 daggerlike claw with which the animals cut and wound 

 their enemies. Even men have been killed by them. 



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