CHAPTER XV 

 ORDER OF POUCHED MAMMALS 



MARSUPIALIA 



AN animal is said to be "low" in zoological rank accord- 

 * * ing to the distance of its position below the highest 

 types of animal life. Thus, a hairless, fish-like mammal, with 

 very simple teeth, like a porpoise, is far lower than the mon- 

 keys and carnivores. 



As we approach the Orders of mammals which we have 

 been taught to place at the end of the list, we encounter some 

 very strange forms, which are of greater interest to the special 

 student than some higher forms which are duplicated many 

 times over. Fortunately for our purpose, all the Orders of 

 living mammals, save two, are represented in North America. 



Although the Order Marsupialia is too extensive, and the 

 majority of its members too far away, to justify its full ex- 

 position here, it is desirable to mention all its Families: 



ORDER MARSUPIALIA 



FAMILIES HABITAT 



KANGAROOS .......... Ma-cro-pod'i-dae. . .Australia, New Guinea, Aru Is. 



PHALANGERS ......... Phal-an-ger'i-dae . . . Australia. 



WOMBATS ............ Phas-co-lo-my'dae. .S. Australia. 



CAENOLESTES ........ E-pan-or'thi-dae ---- South America. 



BANDICOOTS ---- ...... Per-a-mel'i-dae ..... Australia and New Guinea. 



DASYURES AND TAS- 



, . , 

 MANIAN WOLVES ... - y - u n - dae 



OPOSSUMS ............ Di-del-phy'i-dae. . . ( N T th> 



^ .A.nierica. 



MARSUPIAL MOLES . . . No-to-ryc'ti-dae .... Australia. 



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