THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM 



containing the monotremes and marsupials. Examples of 

 all living families of each are exhibited. 



The Monotremata, the lowest order of mammals, possess 

 both reptilian and bird-like characteristics. Two living rep- 

 resentatives are known, both nearly extinct: the Echidna, 

 a spiny, egg-laying mammal, and the duck-billed Platypus, 

 a beaked creature living in burrows. Examples of each are 

 exhibited, as well as an egg of the Echidna, and a skeleton 

 of the same showing the reptilian characters. 



The Marsupialia, pouched mammals, are represented by 

 the opossum, the rare mole marsupial of South Australia, 

 and the Tasmanian "wolf," or Thylacine, in reality not a 

 wolf but a distant relative of the opossum. This powerful 

 creature, once abundant in Tasmania, has been hunted, on 

 account of its sheep-killing proclivities, until it is nearly 

 extinct. 



Other marsupials shown are the bandicoot, hare wallaby, 

 Bennett's wallaby, Venezuelan woolly opossum, carrying its 

 young on its back, the banded anteater, the flying, common 

 and spotted phalangers and the red and gray kangaroos. 

 The skeleton of a kangaroo (skull and pelvis) and a model 

 of the brain, showing its small size and smoothness, to- 

 gether with detailed labels giving characteristics of the 

 Order Marsupialia, complete this introduction to the mam- 

 malian series. 



Proceeding along the left side of the hall, the Order 

 Edentata next appears: mammals either toothless or with- 

 out front teeth. The sloths, anteaters and armadillos are the 



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