1 84 ANIMAL LIFE PAST AND PRESENT. 



and the damage inflicted by it on the flocks of the 

 settlers is, or was, very considerable. Equally de- 

 structive is the smaller animal known as the Tasma- 

 nian Devil, which is more like a large cat in size and 

 appearance. The civet-like animals known as Dasyures 

 are allied forms ranging over all the Australian main- 

 land, where they are the largest carnivores. Another 

 family of Polyprotodonts is represented by the elegant 

 little creatures known to the colonists as Bandicoots, 

 some of which are not larger than a mouse. A larger 

 species, known as the Rabbit-eared Bandicoot, has 

 long hind legs, and leaps somewhat after the manner 

 of a kangaroo. 



The most interesting of all the Australian Poly- 

 protodonts is, however, the so-called Banded Anteater, 

 since this animal makes the nearest approach to the 

 extinct Marsupials of the Secondary rocks. This 

 elegant little creature, in which the back is marked 

 by alternate light and dark transverse stripes, feeds on 

 ants, which it gathers up by means of its long and 

 slender tongue. With the exception of certain forms, 

 such as the Dolphins and Porpoises, which have a great 

 number of simple conical teeth, the Banded Anteater 

 has more teeth than any .other living mammal ; and 

 it may probably be looked upon as the most ancient 

 type of mammal now living upon the globe. 



Here we must mention the so-called Marsupial Mole 

 a small burrowing animal, of a golden-red colour, 

 with enormous front claws, recently discovered in the 

 deserts of Central Australia. 



