THE MARSUPIALS, OR POUCHED ANIMALS 323 



Its muffle, that is to say, the end of the nose, is naked, as in the 

 scrub-frequenting kangaroos." 



The Common Tree Kangaroo is an inhabitant of New Guinea, 

 where it lives in the forests, and is no mean climber of trees. There 

 is a kangaroo look about this animal, even when it is seated on a 

 thick branch, but the fur is very different from that of its fellows in 

 Australia; it looks coarse and harsh, and is not unlike that 

 of a bear. The fore-limbs are nearly as large as the hind ones, 

 and are very strongly made ; the toes are more equal in size than 

 in the other Kangaroos, and the hands are strong and well made. 



The curious little Kangaroo Rats, sometimes called " Potoroos," 

 are about the size of a rabbit, with a compact body, short neck, 

 and rounded ears. The hind-feet are well developed, and the 

 tail is long. The Rufus Kangaroo Rat inhabits New South Wales, 

 and is very common, making a grassy nest in which it rests during 

 the daytime. On being alarmed or pursued, it jumps like a 

 jerboa, with great swiftness for a short distance, and seeks shelter 

 in hollow logs and holes. Its food consists of roots and grasses. 



The Wombat is found in South Australia, Tasmania, Bass 

 Strait, and New South Wales. It is by no means an active 

 animal, and, as it shuffles along, looks very much like a miniature 

 bear. About two to three feet in length, the Wombat has a low, 

 plump body, small feet, and strong limbs, ending in broad extremities 

 provided with claws, and a small, stumpy tail. It has a slit- 

 like, imperfect marsupium, and the special peculiarities of its 

 order, such as the marsupial bones, and inflected lower jaw. In 

 its natural state it hides away during the daytime, and quits its 

 retreat at night to dig up and devour grass and roots. In captivity it 

 is generally docile, by no means wanting in intelligence, and becomes 

 very attached to those to whom it is accustomed, and who feed it; 



A small marsupial animal, not unlike a little bear, about two 

 feet in length, and without a tail, is the Koala. It is a famous 

 tree-climber, and its stout body and short legs are covered by a 

 soft ashy-grey fur. It feeds on the tender shoots of the blue gum- 

 tree, frequenting the loftiest trees from Moreton Bay to Port 

 Philip. At night it descends from the trees and prowls about 

 in search of certain roots. Its head is rather small, and the fur 

 is short, the upper lip being cleft ; and it has a well-developed 

 pouch; The limbs are equal ; the fore-feet have five well-made 



