MARSUPIALIA. 



long feet, and the stout base of the muscular tail: 

 it has the power of balancing itself upon its tail 

 alone, while it kicks out forward with both hind 

 feet together, with great force. The teeth are es- 

 sentially herbivorous ; incisors f ; canines g ; false 

 molars | } ; true molars J- |. : = 28. The Kanga- 

 roos chew the cud like the Ruminantia, though but 

 to a very partial extent, to which order the formation 

 of the stomach and intestines shews their analogy. 

 They are also subject to the presence of hair-balls 

 in the stomach.* The nails on the hind toes are 

 large and solid, resembling long hoofs. The ex- 

 pression of the countenance is gentle and pleasing ; 

 and, as well as its contour, resembles that of a deer. 



Some particulars connected with the parturition 

 of these animals have already been noticed in treat- 

 ing of the order ; but there is one circumstance res- 

 pecting the nutrition of the young, observed in the 

 Kangaroo, which cannot be passed over. When the 

 helpless progeny is first presented to the nipple, it is 

 utterly incapable of the muscular effort of sucking ; 

 the mother is therefore furnished with a muscle 

 which presses the nipple, and causes the milk to flow. 

 The act of swallowing, however, might not always 

 take place at the same instant as the injection, and 

 the throwing of the fluid into the windpipe might 

 be fatal. This danger is provided for, and obviated 

 by an express contrivance ; the air-passage is com- 

 pletely separated from the throat, and the milk passes 

 down in a double stream on each side of the larynx 

 * Pro. Zool. Soc. 1834, p, 152. 



