14 IfATTJBAL HISTORY SKETCHES. 



as the deer, hare, or ferret, of the old world ; and with 

 regard to those most singular animals, the duck-billed 

 platypus and spiny ant-eater, although their incongrui- 

 ties of form are much more apparent, we shall find the 

 formation of both well adapted to the habits of the two 

 animals, the one of which passes the greater portion 

 of its life under ground, the other under water ; and 

 I cannot see that they are in any degree inferior to the 

 mole or hedgehog of Europe. 



Geologists contend that these marsupial animals 

 existed, in all probability, in the earlier periods, while 

 the great work of creation was in progress, and before 

 the true mammalia appeared on the stage; that they 

 are, in fact, but an imperfect type of that class. Be this 

 as it may, one thing is clear, that they alone have 

 preserved their true character through ages, during 

 which the earlier inhabitants of our earth have been 

 swept away; and, unlike them, they appear to have 

 been but little affected by the revolutions and changes 

 which time has wrought in the aspect of our globe. 

 And this very fact would, in my opinion, warrant us in 

 assigning them a higher place than they now occupy. 



"When the joeys are strong runners, there is always a 

 ready sale for them in town, as pets, at 1 each. They 

 come into good season early in October, and may be 

 caught up to Christmas. The best way to get them is 

 to pick the old does out of the mob as they come lum- 

 bering up with the joey in the pouch. As soon as the 

 mother is shot down, run up, secure the young one, tie 



