466 



ZOOLOGY 



SECT. 



only. The jaws are produced into a rostrum, which is much 

 narrower than that of Ornithorhynchus. The eyes are small, and 

 there is no auditory pinna. The limbs are short and powerful. 



There are five toes on 

 each foot, each ending 

 in a very strong claw, 

 by means of which the 

 Echidna is able to 

 burrow with rapidity. 

 The tail is vestigial. 



The Opossums (JDi- 

 delphyidce) (Fig. 1044) 

 are arboreal rat-like 

 Marsupials, with elon- 

 gated naked muzzle, 

 with well-developed, 

 though nailless, oppos- 

 able hallux, and elon- 

 gated prehensile tail. 

 A marsupium is some- 

 times present, but is 

 absent or incomplete 

 in the majority. One 

 species the Water Opossum has the toes webbed. The Dasyu- 

 ridas (Australian Native Cats, Tasmanian Devil,' Thylacine, etc.) 

 have the pollex often rudimentary, the foot four-toed, the hallux, 

 when present, small and clawless, and the tail not prehensile. 



FIG. 1044. Virginian Opossum (Didelphys virginiann). 

 (After Vogt and Specht.) 



FIG. 1045. Dasyure (Dasyurus viverrinus). (After Vogt and Specht.) 



There is a well-developed marsupium. The Native Cats (Fig. 

 1045) and their near allies are cat-like animals, the largest equal 

 in size to a Domestic Cat, some no larger than Rats or Mice ; the 

 Tasmanian Devil is of more thickset body ; the Thylacine has a re- 

 markable resemblance in general shape, as well as size, to a Wolf. 

 The Banded Anteater (Myrmecobius) is devoid of the marsupium. 



