210 MAMMALIA ORDER XI.MARSUPIALIA. 



four pairs of lower incisors may be developed. The banded ant-eater feeds 

 mainly on ants, which are licked up by the tongue, but it will also consume 

 insects of other kinds. It proceeds in a series of hops, with the tail uplifted ; 

 and when pursued, or for sleeping, retires to a hollow log or tree. It is 

 stated to produce from seven to nine young at a birth, although it is 

 difficult to reconcile this with the alleged presence of only four teats. After 

 birth, the young are protected solely by the long hair on the abdomen of 

 the mother. 



A separate family (Notoryctidce) of polyprotodont marsupials is repre- 

 sented solely by the curious marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops), from the 

 sandy deserts of central South Australia. Among the 

 Marsupial essential characteristics of the family the following are the 

 Mole. most important : There are only three pairs of incisor 



teeth in each jaw, and there are neither ear-conchs or eyes 

 visible externally. The limbs, which are sub-equal in length, are stout, strong, 

 and each furnished with five toes ; the hind-foot having a clawed first toe, 

 not opposable to the other digits which are of unequal size. Collar-bones 



are present ; and the under surface of the 

 skeleton of the tail carries the so-called 

 chevron- bones so commonly present in 

 reptiles. The upper molar teeth have 

 triangular crowns bearing three cusps only. 

 Externally, the marsupial mole is a some- 

 what peculiar-looking animal, of a pale 

 golden -red colour, and measuring about 



J^~ fjjj&jj&$j\ . 5 in. to the root of the stumpy tail. 



s "~ fc jVrZ / ^ h ar( ^ horny shield, divided into two 

 Fig. 113 MARSUPIAL HOLE parts by a transverse ridge, serves to protect 



(Notoryctes typhlops). the upper surface of the blunt muzzle ; and 



the apertures of the ears are well-nigh 



hidden by the fur. In both feet the four inner toes are clawed, but the 

 fifth carries a short, broad nail ; the claws of the third and fourth front toes 

 are very large and powerful, while those of the corresponding hind toes 

 curve outwards and backwards, the toes of these feet decreasing in size from 

 the second to the fifth. In both pairs of limbs the soles of the feet are 

 naked and covered with a tough leathery skin. The short, stumpy tail 

 is also hard and leathery, decreasing rapidly in diameter from the base, and 

 terminating in a blunt, knob-like extremity. The pouch opens backwards, 

 and contains only two teats. The creature spends most of its time 

 burrowing in the sand of the Australian deserts in search of its insect-food, 

 occasionally making its appearance on the surface. Its enormously-powerful 

 front claws enable it to bury itself in the sand with extraordinary rapidity. 



The last family of the marsupials is an American one, and is represented 



solely by the opossums (Didelphyidce). In spite of the remoteness of their 



habitat, these animals are very closely allied to the 



Opossums. Dasyuridce, from which they may be distinguished by having 



four (instead of three) pairs of lower incisors, and by the first 



hind toe being opposable to the other digits. There is no claw to the first 



hind toe ; and the number of pairs of upper incisor teeth is five, or the same 



as in the Dasyuridce. As a rule, the tail is long, scaly, naked, and prehensile, 



although rarely it may be short, and more or less covered with hair. 



Internally, the stomach is simple, and the intestine has a blind appendage. 



