138 



CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



better adapted to struggle for existence, and play but a subordi- 

 nate part in the fauna of that continent. They consist of the 

 Opossums, found both in North and South America, and of a 

 small creature Coenolestes recently discovered in the latter 

 continent. The Common Opossum {Didelphys Virginiana) has 



Fig. gS. — The Long-tailed Pangolin {Manis peniadaciyli^ 



a wide distribution in North America, from Canada to Mexico. 

 It is the well-known "possum" of American story and verse. 



Order 14. — Egg-laying Mammals (Monotremata) 



Like the preceding one, this order is the only one in its sub- 

 class (Prototheria), of which the leading characters have already 

 been given (p. 69). It will suffice to remark here that its mem- 

 bers are only found in the Australian region, like the majority 

 of Marsupials, and having had to compete with these compara- 

 tively more powerful forms, have been prevented from occupying 

 more than a subordinate position in the fauna of that region. 



