494 



MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



'lagus) live mostly in trees, and in adaptation to this mode of 

 life the fore-legs are nearly as long and strong as the hind-legs. 

 They are natives of New Guinea. 



The Kangaroo-rats (Hypsiprymnus) differ from the true Kan- 

 garoos chiefly in their smaller size, and in the presence of well- 

 developed upper canines (fig. 188, B). They are diminutive 

 nocturnal animals, and they live mostly upon roots. 



c. Carpophaga. Intermediate between the Kangaroos and the 

 typical members of the present section (the Phalangers) is the 

 Phascolarctos the " native sloth " or " bear " of the Australian 

 colonists and the "koala" of the natives. This curious animal 

 is about two feet in length, having a stout body, covered with 

 a dense bluish-grey fur. The tail is wanting; and the feet 

 are furnished with strong curved claws, which enable the 

 animal to pass the greater part of its existence in trees. In 



Fig. 188. A, Dentition of a Carnivorous Marsupial (Thylacinus], showing the long 

 and pointed canines and the trenchant molars and praemolars. B, Dentition of a 

 herbivorous Marsupial (Hypsiprymnus\ showing the flat-crowned molars. (After 

 Owen.) c Canine teeth ; i i Incisors. 



this it is greatly assisted by the fact that all the feet are pre- 

 hensile, the hallux being opposable, and the digits of the fore- 

 limb divided into two sets, the thumb and index-finger being 



