POUCHED QUADRUPEDS. 



477 



and dead flesh. Sometimes they get into houses, where their 

 voracity makes them very unwelcome guests. They do not climb 

 trees. 





FlG. 403. MOUSE OPOSSUM AND YOUNG. 



The Phalangers (Phalangistai) are climbers, and are furnished 

 kvith a large opposable thumb. In their general form, they some- 

 what resemble squirrels ; some of them have the skin of their flanks 

 extended between the fore and hind legs, so as to form a sort of 

 Darachute. by the aid of which they take surprising leaps from one 

 ree to another ; these are called Flying Phalangers. 



FlG. 404. rORMOCSE PHALANGER. 



The Bandicoots (Peramelidx) remind us of the Shrews and other 

 mall insect-eating quadrupeds. They are said to live on insects, for 



