326 ANIMALS OF THE 



The little ones, when first produced, are in a 

 manner but half completed ; and some travellers 

 assert, that they are, at that time, not much 

 larger than flies. We are assured also, that im- 

 mediately on quitting the real womb, they creep 

 into the false one ; where they continue fixed to 

 the teat, until they have strength sufficient to 

 venture once more into the open air, and share 

 the fatigues of the parent. Ulloa assures us, that 

 he has found five of these little creatures hidden 

 in the belly of the dam three days after she was 

 dead, still alive, and all clinging to the teat with 

 great avidity. It is probable, therefore, that 

 upon their first entering the false womb they 

 seldom stir out from thence; but when more 

 advanced, they venture forth several times in 

 the day, and at last seldom make use of their 

 retreat, except in cases of necessity or danger. 

 Travellers are not agreed in their accounts of 

 the time which these animals take to continue 

 in the false womb j some assure us they remain 

 there for several weeks, and others, more pre- 

 cisely, mention a month. During this period of 

 strange gestation, there is no difficulty in open- 

 ing the bag in which they are concealed ; they 

 may be reckoned, examined, and handled, with- 

 out much inconvenience j for they keep fixed to 

 the teat, and cling there as firm as if they made 

 a part of the body of the animal that bears them. 

 When they are grown stronger, they drop from 

 the teat into the bag in which they are contain- 

 ed, and at last find their way out, in search of 

 more copious subsistence. Still, however, the 



