THE POUCHED ANIMALS 



43 



sharp incisor teeth. A remarkable feature of the animal 

 is its persistency. When traveling at night it has been 

 known, according to Brehm, to roll into a stream, but even 

 the sudden plunge does not interfere with its journey, 

 which is continued without deviation. It differs from the 

 Tasmanian wolf and others in being very good-natured in 

 confinement, though doubtless well able to defend itself 

 when attacked. 



Fig. 30. — I, Wombat ; 2, Tasmanian Devil; 3, Tasmanian Wolf. 



A very interesting marsupial is the koala, or native 

 bear, a curious little creature with long woolly hair and 

 prominent ears. It is found in the forests, often carrying 

 its young upon its back, and is there hunted. The 

 natives, who often follow it to the tops of the tallest trees, 

 are as fond of its flesh as the negro is of opossum. 



Among the most beautiful of the marsupials are the 

 flying phalangers, which we call the flying squirrels. 



