

POUCH-BEARING ANIMALS. 1 



THE animals of the present Order differ essentially in their organisation from all others. They com- 

 prehend genera living on every variety of nutriment : thus, some are insectivorous or carnivorous, 

 others herbivo:ous, and others frugivorous, and differing also in their habits some being diurnal 

 and others nocturnal. A corresponding modification is, therefore, manifest of the teeth and digestive 

 organs, as well as of those of prehension and progression. 



The distinctness of the Marsupials rests on physiological grounds ; in fact, on their structure and 

 economy relating to the reproduction of the species, on the abbreviated term of gestation, and on the 

 voting being received, in their immature condition, into the inarsupiitm, or pouch ; where, attaching 

 itself to the teats, it receives nutriment and grows, till it is able to provide for itself. The mnrsupium 

 is, sometimes, nothing more than a fold of skin at others, this is wanting ; but two bones, situated 

 on the anterior part of the pelvis, and called the marsupial bones, are always present. On the structure 

 of these animals, Professor Owen has thrown great light. We now proceed succinctly to describe some 

 of the gei i era and sub-genera. 



One gcnust has forty-six teeth. The incisors are ranged in a semicircle, equal, and Separated in 

 the middle in each jaw by a vacant space ; the external incisor on each side is the stoutest ; the canines 

 arc of considerable size, curved and pointed, like those of cats and dogs; the last molars are armed 

 with three obtuse tubercles; there are five toes on each fore foot and four on each hind foot. 



THE DOG-HEADED THYLACIN 1'S.J 



THIS creature, called by a variety of names, as zebra, opossum, iind zebra-wolf) is a native of Van 

 Diemen's Land. In .stature it nearly equals a wolf; the head strongly resembles that of a dog, but 



* Mar.-upiata, or M;u.-ii]>i:ili.i, from mnrmpium. a purse or bag. 



J Thjlacirius Cj nocephalus. 



t Thv*acinu3> Temmintk. 



