3 66 



QUADRUPEDS. 



large opposable thumb. In their general form they somewhat 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 parachute, by the aid of which they 

 take surprising leaps from one tree to another ; these are called " Flying 

 Phalangers." 



FIG. 405. Gi; NX'S BANDICOOT. 



The Bandicoots (Peramelida] remind us of the shrews and other small 

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



their teeth seem 

 suited ; but some 

 of the species arc 

 also reported t<~ 

 feed on roots and 

 bulbs. 



Gunn's Ban- 

 dicoot ( Pcramdes 



Gujinii), a pretty 

 creature, about as 

 large as a rabbit, 

 marked across the 

 loins with alternate 

 black and white 

 bands, is accused of 

 inflictinggreat injury 

 by destroying bulbs 

 in gardens. These 

 creatures are said to 

 devour corn in gra- 

 naries, as rats and 

 mice do in Europe. 

 The Myrmeco- 



FIG. 4 o6.-MYRMEcoBirs. "blUS is about the 



