MARSUPIALS. 



265 



assisting in the jumping. These animals are peaceable 

 and inoffensive, entirely herbivorous; they are hunted 



FIG. 205. 



THE GREAT KANGAROO (Macropus giganteus). 



both for their skins, which make excellent leather, and 

 for their flesh. 



The opossums are the American representatives of the 

 marsupials ; there are several species, some of the South 

 American being scarcely larger than a mouse. That of 

 North America, the Virginia opossum, is larger than a 

 cat ; it has a scaly prehensile tail, and is nocturnal in its 

 habits, which are those of a scavenger. 



There are many other marsupials, and we may mention 

 as among the most curious the flying phalangers, which 

 have a membrane stretching from the outer digit of the 

 M 23 



