MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA 177 



most primitive of all mammals, the Egg-Laying Monotremes, the 

 Duck-Billed Platypus and the Spiny Ant-Eater. The Marsupials 

 and Monotremes are most ancient types, and their intelligence is in 

 an undeveloped state. In the marsupials the brain is small in propor- 

 tion to the size of the head and body. There are other features in 

 the structure of these animals which clearly indicate low organization. 

 "There is," states Mr. Lydekker, "one marked peculiarity in 

 regard to the succession of the teeth of marsupials. Instead of the 

 whole of the first set of teeth being replaced by a second set of 

 permanent teeth, as in other mammals, one tooth only succeeds, and 

 that not constantly. In fact, the mammals of Australia, from what- 

 ever point of view regarded, are of exceeding interest. Primarily, 

 of course, the scientific naturalist and the biologist must deal with 

 the Marsupialia, but in no part of the world is a finer field than 

 Australia offered the outdoor naturalist for investigation. But there 

 must be no delay; for Australia is no longer the wild land that 

 Darwin found when he landed at Sydney over seventy years ago. 

 Vast areas of ' bush ' have been cleared, and the work of ' reclaim- 

 ing ' goes on unceasingly. Where once the Kangaroo fed peace- 

 fully, save when disturbed by the aboriginal hunters, flocks of Sheep 

 now pasture, and the old-time haunt of the Emu is become a wheat- 

 field. If something is not done to save them (other than the passing 

 of ineffective game laws) the most interesting race of animals at 

 present existing on our globe will become extinct. Nearly all species 

 of marsupials are ruthlessly hunted down. In the early days of 

 settlement the colonists formed Kangaroo ' drives.' Thousands of 

 Kangaroos and Wallabies were rounded up by parties of men on 

 horse and afoot, and when the unfortunate animals were hemmed 

 in the slayers came among them and brutally did their work. This 

 was termed 'sport' (?). And to-day the work of destruction still 

 goes on. Marsupials are killed for their pelts, which are valuable. 

 They are victims of the fur trade. Opossums, Kangaroos, Wallabies 

 and native Bears (Koala) are all persecuted and being reduced in 

 numbers. And they are gradually being driven back to the very 

 wildest parts. No longer is it possible to see a Wallaby or Kangaroo 

 on the outskirts of any of the capital cities of the Commonwealth. 

 In fact, there are thousands of native-born Australians who have 

 never seen a Kangaroo outside some Zoological Gardens. 



"Some of the methods adopted by the pelt-hunter in Australia are 

 barbarous. Opossums and Wallabies are caught in snares and gins 



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