2 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY, 
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recently discovered passes an underground existence like the 
Mole. Some again are carnivorous and others herbivorous: 
while among the former certain kinds live on flesh, and others 
on insects ; an equal diversity obtaining among the vegetable- 
feeders, some of which live on roots, others on grasses or 
leaves, others on fruits, and yet others on honey or tue juices 
of flowers. We may notice, moreover, a curious kind of paral- 
lelism between certain Marsupials and the Mammals of other 
regions. For instance, the carnivorous Thylacine of Tasmania 
so closely resembles, both in form and habits, a Wolf, tuat by 
the colonists it is universally spoken of as the “ Tasmanian 
Wolf”; while some of the small carnivorous forms are remark- 
ably like Weasels and Civets. Among the vegetable-feeders, 
on the other hand, the Wombats simulate the Marmots; the 
Flying Phalangers are so like Flying Squirrels that, were 
it not for their very different front teeth, the one might 
readily be mistaken for the other. A still more extraordinary 
resemblance exists between certain small Mouse-like and Dor- 
mouse-like Marsupials and the true Mice and Dormice ; this 
being so marked as regards general external appearance, that 
it may even at first sight deceive the practised naturalist. More 
remote is the resemblance between the arboreal Marsupial 
known as the Koala and a small Bear, although it is still suff- 
ciently marked for the Australian creature to have received 
the name of the “‘ Native Bear.” 
Having their head-quarters in Australia and New Guinea, 
where they form the dominant part of the Mammalian fauna, 
and where alone the Egg-laying Mammals are met with, the Mar- 
supials gradually diminish in number and importance in the 
islands of the north-west, being largely mingled in Celebes and 
the neighbouring islands with types of Mammals characteristic 
of the Indian or Oriental region. If, however, we pass westward 
across the deep channel separating the island of Celcbes from 
