1 82 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



on the lower portion of the pelvis; these are known as the epipubic 

 bones. The relatively small brain has already been mentioned as a 

 characteristic of Marsupials, also the peculiarity in regard to the 

 succession of the teeth, which Lydekker considers may be taken as 

 characteristic of the order. 



The Marsupials are placed in a sub-class by themselves. They 

 differ greatly from the higher mammals, and in form and general 

 appearance from one another; structurally, however, they are closely 

 connected. The order includes both carnivorous and herbivorous 

 animals, and their habits are various. Some species are specially 

 adapted for an arboreal life, while others are unable to climb ; some 

 dwell in caves of the rocks, others rear their young, like the Giant 

 Kingfisher and the Owl, in the hollow spouts of the forest gum-trees ; 

 but no Marsupial of aquatic habits has yet been discovered. Far 

 more is known of the structural peculiarities of the Marsupials than 

 of their habits. Many of them are extremely shy and difficult to 

 observe in a wild state, and in captivity they change their ways more 

 or less, like nearly all other animals. The bush naturalist tells some 

 strange stories about the habits of Kangaroos and Wallabies, 

 Wombats and Opossums, but the evidence of untrained observers 

 is not always to be relied upon. There have been some fierce con- 

 troversies carried" on in the Australian newspapers, from time to time, 

 regarding the mode of birth of Marsupials. Some bushmen are 

 firmly convinced that the young of the Kangaroo are born in the 

 pouch, and no amount of argument will shake their faith in such an 

 absurd notion. 



KANGAROOS. — Perhaps no other species of animal is so inti- 

 mately associated with its native land as is the Kangaroo with 

 Australia. Outside the Commonwealth, Australia is almost univers- 

 ally talked of as the "Land of the Kangaroo/' and the long-legged, 

 heavy-tailed animal figures in the national coat of arms. It is fitting 

 that such a unique animal should be thus honoured; but it is to be 

 feared that a century hence the Kangaroo will be only a memory, 

 if the present rate of destruction is allowed to continue. 



The Kangaroo not only symbolizes Australia, but it is the subject 

 of myth and legend; in the folklore of many an Australian tribe 

 you will find it enshrined. The Kangaroo totem is famous, and now 

 that the blacks have nearly all passed away, the Boy Scouts of the 

 different States are claiming the big grey animal as their own. On 

 the troop-flags its form is seen to-day in the city streets in places 



