EARLY DAYS AND EARLY WAYS 13 



between the outspread limbs and the body — room is found 

 for four ; while in the case of the Bandicoots {Perameles) 

 and the Dasyures (Dasyurus) as many as six, at any rate 

 for a time, are crowded into the pouch, which opens 

 towards the tail, instead of headwards as in kangaroos. 

 In the Australian pouched mice {Phascogale) litters of as 

 many as ten may be produced j and here, strangely enough, 

 there is no pouch for their reception, this extremely useful 

 receptacle having degenerated to a mere fold of skin on 

 the abdomen. The young, in consequence, are compelled 

 to maintain their hold upon their mother by clinging 

 to the fur of her belly, aided, no doubt, by their hold upon 

 her teats. Since the mother is a creature no larger than 

 a mouse, the burden of ten youngsters attached in this 

 way must be a very appreciable one, and probably they 

 are soon transferred to some snug and safe retreat where 

 they can be suckled at intervals. 



Yet other marsupials, however, for some mysterious 

 reason, have suppressed their pouches. The Australian 

 Koala, or " native bear " {Phascolarctos koala), is one of 

 these. The young koala, however, seems to be no whit 

 less well off than the young kangaroo snugly curled up 

 in a deep pocket, for it contrives to maintain a firm and 

 lasting grip of its mother's fur, which is long and woolly. 

 Similarly, of the American Opossums, which are also 

 marsupials, some species have lost this family badge, others 

 have retained it. Thus the best-known member of 

 this group, the " common opossum " {Didelphys marsu- 

 ■pialis), has a large pouch capable of accommodating all 

 the members of her numerous family with ease — though 

 it is clear they cannot long be carried after this 

 fashion. On the other hand two species of South 

 American opossums {Didelfhys crassicaudata, and the 



