CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



(B.) Poephaga, or Grass-eaters, have long in- 

 cisors, the canines generally wanting, and a 

 complex intestinal canal like herbivorous mam- 

 malia. It includes the Kangaroos and the 

 Kangaroo-rat, all of which are inhabitants of 

 Australia and the neighbouring countries. The 

 Kangaroos are remarkable for the enormous 

 length of their hinder feet, whence their generic 

 name, Macropus (long-footed), is derived. The 

 hind-legs and tail are also very largely developed ; 

 whilst the fore-legs and feet are very small. From 

 this great inequality in the size of the limbs, they 

 advance on all-fours very slowly ; but they can 

 make immense leaps with the hind-legs, the tail 

 probably assisting them. The dental formula 

 is : 



1.3=3, C.:=?, 

 i i oo 



i r 



.4=4 = 2 8> 

 44 



The young ones reside in the maternal pouch 

 until they are able to graze for themselves. The 



Great Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). 



largest species is sometimes six feet in height, 

 having the bulk of a sheep, and weighing 140 

 pounds. Its flesh is used as food by the native 

 Australians. The Kangaroo-rat (Hypsi prynnus) 

 is a nocturnal animal about the size of a small 

 rabbit. It has canines in the upper jaw. 



(C.) Carpophaga, or Fruit-eaters, have large 

 and long incisors in both jaws, the canines some- 

 times absent, and a complicated intestinal canal. 

 They are peculiarly adapted to live among trees, 

 on which they seek their food. The Petaurus 

 (Flying Phalanger) of Australia possesses an 

 extension of the skin on each side of the body, 

 between the anterior and posterior limbs, by the 

 help of which it is enabled to take extensive 

 leaps from tree to tree. Like the flying squirrels, 

 they have no true power of flight It is a noc- 

 turnal animal, with a delicate fur. The Phalan- 

 gers (PhalangistidcB) are so called because the 

 second and third digits of the hind limb are 

 joined together almost to their extremities. The 

 Australian Opossum (Phalangista -vulpina) is 

 hunted for ifs flesh, which is considered a great 

 delicacy. The Pholascolarctos, or ' Koala,' or 

 native sloth' of New Holland, which is nocturnal 



178 



in its habits, has the gait and carriage of a young 

 bear, and passes its life upon trees. 



(D.) Entomophaga, or Insect-eaters, have 

 canine teeth in the jaws, and prey on the weaker 

 classes of invertebrate animals. Some live on the 

 ground ; while others, such as the opossum, ascend 

 trees in search of food. The Opossum tribe are 

 extensively diffused over, and belong exclusively 

 to, America. They have a long prehensile tail, 

 and the thumb is opposable to the other digits. 



Virginian Opossum (Didelphys Virginiana). 



They are nocturnal animals of slow gait, and 

 nestle upon trees, where they pursue birds, in- 

 sects, &c. without rejecting fruit. The Virginian 

 Opossum (Didelphys Virginiana} is about the size 

 of a cat. The dental formula is : 



I. 5n5 c 1=1 R 3=3 M .4=4 _ 50 . 

 44 i i 33 44 



In some species of opossum, only the vestige of 

 a pouch is present ; in these cases, the female 

 supports her young by entwining her tail with 

 theirs. The Banded Ant-eater (Myrmecobius 

 fasciatus\ remarkable for its large number of 

 molar teeth, and the Bandicoots (Paramelida) of 

 Australia, also belong to this group. 



(E.) Sarcophaga, or Flesh-eaters, fill the place 

 held by the carnivora in other parts of the world. 

 Their canines are long and pointed, and their 

 molars are set with cusps, and their stomach is 

 simple. The Thylacinus is about the size of a 

 wolf, is a native of Tasmania, and is called 

 the ' hyaena.' The Dasynrus, or ' native devil,' is 

 also found in Tasmania, and though smaller than 

 the former, it is very predaceous, destroying 

 sheep, and even invading houses. 



SECTION II. 



Placentalia where the young before birth are 

 connected with the mother by a placenta, and 

 are brought forth in a comparatively advanced 

 stage of development. The placenta is ' a struc- 

 ture which is developed by the interlacement of 

 the vessels of the offspring with those of the 

 parent, and by means of which the former is 

 enabled to receive nourishment, and to get rid of 

 effete matters.' The brain also in this section is 

 better developed than in the Implacentalia. It 

 includes all the remaining orders of the Mammalia. 



ORDER 3. Edentata derive their name from 

 the fact, that in all (with one exception) the in- 

 cisor teeth are absent. The teeth are simple in 

 structure, and have no roots. Their feet are 

 furnished with long and powerful claws. 



