THE LOWEST MAMMALS 



its tail firmly so that it forms a support for the body. 

 This is quite analogous to the support given to the 

 kangaroo by its tail. 



It has been remarked that the thylacine shows a pre- 

 ference for mutton over any other article of diet. Be- 

 fore Van Diemen's land was discovered there were 

 plenty of thylacines but no mutton. In those days it 

 had to content itself with marsupials only ; an observer, 

 however, has stated that nowadays its palate has been 

 so vitiated by civilization that it will not satisfy a 

 healthy appetite by devouring the wombat, which often 

 occurs in plenty near to its haunts. But on the other 

 hand a spiny ant-eater (Echidna) was once dug out of 

 the stomach of a thylacine, showing that when pressed 

 for food it is not particular. The first specimens ever 

 acquired by the Zoological Society came over in the 

 year 1850. They were shipped in company with 

 twelve fat sheep to serve them on the voyage. The 

 next thylacines were procured in 1863, and then until 

 1883 there were no specimens of this animal procured for 

 the Zoo. Since that date, however, there have been 

 several ; and it is possible always at any given time 

 to find in the Gardens this the largest of existing poly- 

 pro todont marsupials. It is more likely, however, 

 that several of its allies, such as the dasyure and the 

 American opossums will be on view. 



ORDER MONOTREMATA, THE ECHIDNA AND THE 

 ORNYTHORYNCHUS 



In the general sketch of mammalian organization 

 we have dealt with this group, which occupy most cer- 

 tainly the lowest position among the mammalia and 

 still retain more than one early and non-mammalian 

 character in their anatomy. 



148 



