MONOTREMATA. 129 



Phascolomys,* the Wombat. 



Closely allied in its dentition, and in its form, to 

 the Rodentia, this animal seems to be the link which 

 connects the chain , of marsupials to the great chain 

 of placental mammals, by this end, as the Opossums 

 connected it by the other. It has no canines, and 

 the two projecting incisors of one jaw meet those of 

 the other at an angle, as in the Rat and Squirrel. 

 The only species, (Ph. Ursinus,) the Wombat, com- 

 mon to the continent and islands, is a sluggish, bur- 

 rowing animal, much like a great guinea-pig, feeding 

 chiefly on roots, and grass. The flesh is esteemed, 

 though coarse in texture. 



We must here notice two very singular Australian 

 animals, which were placed provisionally, by Cuvier, 

 as a section of his somewhat heterogeneous order, 

 Edentata. He gave them the name 



MONOTREMATA,f 



from their possessing but a single passage out of the 

 body, like Birds and Reptiles. More recent researches 

 have, however, proved their connexion with the great 

 order or sub-class now under review. They have 

 not a developed pouch, it is true, but they have the 



* Phaskolos, a pouch, and pug, mys, a mouse. 



f- Mavay, monos, single, and r^JJ^a, trema, an opening. 



G 5 



