104 MARSUPIALIA. 



alone ; though remains of them have been found in the Stonefielcl 

 slate, (England,) and in the gypsum quarries of Paris, (France.) 

 They show great varieties of size, from that of a small 

 wolf to a mouse, the larger ones being considerably fierce, des- 

 troying sheep, and even making their way into houses ; others 

 attack poultry and suck their blood. Those of the smallest size 

 show a likeness to the Insectivora, and live on trees. Prof. 

 Owen enumerates three genera of the Sarcophaga, viz. : Thyla- 

 cinus, Dasyurus and Phascogale. These, with others of the or. 

 der, show a tendency to the multiplication of teeth, and peculiar, 

 ities of the arterial system and bodily organs. The Thyladnus, 

 (Gr. Oulaxog, thulacos, a sac ; Iviq, inis, offspring,) has incisors, 

 f.; Canines, |;f ; Molars, ^:^ =46. The species T. cynocephalus, 

 (Gr. xvuv, kudn, a dog ; xecpal^ kephale, head,) Dog-headed Thy- 

 lacinus, Tasminian or Zebra Wolf, is an extremely active animal, 

 of the size of a young wolf; has short smooth hair, of a dusky 

 brown above, but barred or zebraed on the lower part of the back 

 with about sixteen jet-black transverse stripes. This has to the 

 other animals of the group, relations similar to those which the 

 lion and tiger have to the larger quadrupeds of Africa and Asia. 

 Formerly it preyed chiefly upon Phalangers and Kangaroos, re- 

 jecting the flesh of the Wombat, an animal common in the dis- 

 trict which it inhabits. Since sheep have been introduced, its 

 favorite food is mutton, which puts shepherds on the alert to des- 

 troy these animals by every possible means. The Dasyurus, 

 (Gr. daaf>s t dasus, thick ; ou^ct, dura, tail,) has a conical shaped 

 head, and on the hind feet the great toe is reduced to a tubercle, 

 or entirely absenf. It has four less molar teeth than the Thyla- 

 cinus, making the number forty -two. One species is named D. 

 ursinus, (Lat. ursus, a bear,) Ursine Dasyurus having very 

 strong muscular jaws, and in its movements resembling the bear. 

 Its vulgar name is " Native Devil." The Dasyurus is very 

 destructive to poultry, eats raw flesh of all kinds and probably 

 dead fish and blubber, as its tracks are found on the sea shore. 

 In confinement it appears untamably savage, biting severely, 

 and uttering at the same time a low, yelling growl. The Phas- 

 cogale, (Gr. cpagx&hov , phaskoUon, a bag; y^, gale a weasel.) 

 has seven molars instead of six, on each side, above and below, 

 making the whole number forty-six. The species P. peniciUala, 

 (Lat. penicillus, a little tail,) lives on trees, has fur short, woolly 

 and thick, and is rather larger than the brown rat. 



II. FAMILY, the ENTOMOPHAGA, (Gr. Iviopn, entoma, insect; 

 qpayw, to eat.) INSECT EATERS. 



These have three kinds of teeth in both jaws and a simple 



