Artifice when taken Description of the young. 



When pursued and overtaken,, it will feign 

 itself dead, till the danger is over: and Du Pratz 

 asserts, that when seized in this condition, it will 

 not exhibit any signs of life, though even placed 

 on a red-hot iron; and when there are any young 

 in the pouch of a female, she will suffer both 

 herself and them to be roasted alive rather than 

 give them x up. These animals never move till 

 their assailant is either gone to a distance, or has 

 concealed himself; when they scramble, with as 

 much expedition as possible, into the first hole or 

 bush that offers an asylum. 



Previous to the time of parturition the female 

 chooses a place in the thick bushes, at the foot 

 of some tree. With the assistance of the male, 

 she then collects together a quantity of fine dry 

 grass; which is loaded upon her belly, and the 

 male drags her and her burthen to the nest, by 

 her tail. She produces from four to six young 

 ones at a time, which are brought forth blind, 

 naked, and exactly resembling little foetuses. 

 These immediately retreat into the afore-men- 

 tioned pouch, and fasten closely to the teats ; to 

 which they continue to adhere apparently inani- 

 mate, till they obtain their sight, strength, and 

 hair. From that time they use the pouch merely 

 as an asylum from danger. The mother carries 

 them about with the utmost affection, and they 

 may frequently be seen sporting in and out of this 

 secure retreat. Whenever they are surprised, and 



