KANGAROOS. 



363 



each side of each mandible), of an irregular form, which probably serve as grinders, 

 but have no roots. The eyes are small but brilliant, and the orifice of the ear is readily 

 detected by its opening and closing in a living animal, though scarcely perceptible after 

 death. This creature is sometimes called the " Water-Mole." It delights to haunt the 

 broad and tranquil ponds that are formed by the expansion of a stream, in which it 

 swims and dives with great facility. Its burrow is formed in the earth, and runs to a 

 great distance underground, sometimes extending even fifty feet. A nest of grass and 

 weeds is formed at the extremity, where the parent rears its young. The ornithorynchus 

 inhabits Australia. 



The Porcupine Ant-eater (Echidna aculeata} is another Australian animal, 

 the muzzle of which forms a beak, but less developed than in the duckbill. It is 

 clothed with bristly black hair, among which are many sharp spines. The tongue is 

 long, capable of being thrust out to a great length, and covered with a glutinous secre- 

 tion, by means of which it captures the ants that constitute its usual food. 



ORDER II. MARSUPIALIA.* 



POUCHED QUADRUPEDS. 



These animals are remarkable for the premature production of 

 their young, which are born in so early a stage of their growth, 

 that they are incapa- 

 ble of motion, and 

 scarcely show the 

 germs of limbs or 

 other external organs. 

 These little ones re- 

 main attached to the 

 teats of the mother, 

 from whose milk they 

 derive their food, and 

 are carried about in a 

 pouch formed by the 

 skin of the abdomen, 

 until they are able to 

 provide for them- 

 selves. In some spe- 

 cies, however, this 

 pouch is deficient. 

 The Marsupial Quad- 

 rupeds have only been 

 found in America, on 

 the Australian conti- 

 nent, and in some of 

 the adjacent islands. 

 Australia, indeed, with a few doubtful exceptions, produces no 



* Marsupium, a pouch. 



FIG. 401. COMMON KANGAROO. 



