38 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Tlie following specimens are exhibited in the Museum — 



The Sloth— (Bradypus torquatusj from South America. 



The Armadillo — ( Tatusiapeba) hom Central and South America. 



The Hairy or True AniedXer—iMyrmecopliagatetradactyla, 

 and M. didadyla) from South America. 



The Scaly Anteater or VoXlgolin—iManis j)entadactyla) from 

 India, (J/. Utradactyla and 31. longicaudata) from Africa. 



The Great '^Q:n.i^—[l^holidotus giganteus) from Africa. 



The Aard Vark or Cape Ant "BediX—iOrycterop^ts capensis) 



from Africa. 



Orders XI and XIL-MARSUPIALIA and MONO- 



TREMATA. — These orders include the Kangaroos, and most 

 of the otlier Australian mammals, and as they are for the most 

 part peculiar to the Australian region they are of special interest 

 to visitors to this Museum. A chapter Avill therefore be devoted 

 to these alone (Chapter Y.). The peculiarity which groups these 

 animals together is the presence of certain bones, known as the 

 " marsupial bones," which are always accompanied by a more 

 or less well defined pouch, in which the female carries her 

 young after birth until they are able to take care of themselves. 



We say the Marsupials are peculiar to Australia, but there is 

 one exception — the Opossum — which is found in America. This 

 is a pretty little animal with a long nose, naked tail, and feet fitted 

 for tree-climbing. The Virginian Opossum was the first dis- 

 covered marsupial, known long before the Australian species were 

 found. A specimen {Didelphis cancrivora) is to be seen in the 

 Museum. 



