THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 2 g 



picks it up with her fore paw and puts it back again. 

 By this time they have generally reached ten pounds 

 weight ; they then . make their public appearance on the 

 grass, and begin to shift for themselves ; but at first 

 they return on the slightest signs of danger. In fact, 

 even when they are quite old enough to know better, 

 they push their heads in to take a little refreshment, even 

 though a little brother or sister may be in the cradle. 



As the young Kangaroo grows up, very important 

 changes take place in its form. The hind legs become 

 immensely longer than those in the front, and the tail 

 becomes very long and thick. The animal scarcely uses 

 its front paws, excepting to lean upon when stooping 

 forward to feed off the grass. Its usual position is up- 

 right, sitting upon its hind legs and tail, and it moves 

 by long leaps, the tail acting like a strong spring which 

 pushes it forward. There are four toes on the foot of 

 the kangaroo, the middle one of which is very large 

 and powerful, and is furnished with a strong hoof-like 

 nail, which makes the foot a very important weapon, 

 with which it frequently kills some of the dogs which 

 are employed in hunting it. 



Opossums. 



The Opossums form another group of the Marsupials, but 

 in some of these the pouch is entirely wanting its place 

 being merely occupied by a fold in the skin. One of the 

 largest of the family is the Virginian Opossum, which is 

 about the size of a cat. This was the first of the Mar- 

 supials which became known, and you will believe that 

 she must be a good specimen of animals with pouches 

 when you are told that the young family to be accommo- 

 dated in that nursery sometimes amount to sixteen in 

 number. Certainly they are not very large when first 

 born, for it is only when they have been there fifty days 



