12 THE INFANCY OF ANIMALS 



been turned adrift. But this is doubtful, for it is hard 

 to see how so helpless a scrap of life as a newly-born 

 kangaroo could avoid being swept from its teat and 

 crushed at the bottom of the pouch by its now lively 

 brother. In the case of the larger species of kangaroo 

 the young one, or " joey " as it is called by the settlers, 

 attains the size of a hare, or even larger, before it finally 

 leaves its living cradle. 



There can be no doubt but that such a pouchful must 

 at all times be a considerable burden, and it would appear 

 that for some considerable time before the youngster 

 finally outgrows his cradle he is made to run with his parent 

 during a great part of the day. If danger threatens, 

 however, the mother quickly transfers her offspring to 

 her pouch and makes off. If she is pursued, and feels 

 in danger of being overtaken, without hesitation she will 

 eject the youngster and leave him to his fate in order 

 to save her own life. 



Here, it may be remarked in passing, we seem to see 

 the maternal instinct in the making. On the first alarm 

 her immediate action is one of anxiety for her helpless 

 offspring. But the steady, demoralising influence of fear 

 sooner or later begets an overmastering desire to secure 

 her own safety, to effect which she sacrifices even this her 

 most precious possession to the pursuing Fates. 



The Cuscuses of the Austro-Malayan region, and the Pha- 

 langers of Australia are all arboreal creatures, and carry 

 their young in pouches. Occasionally twins are pro- 

 duced, but as a rule the nursery has but one occupant. 

 In the case of the flying-phalangers of Australia — small 

 mammals which do not fly but take flying leaps from the 

 topmost boughs of some high tree to the lower branches 

 of a neighbouring tree, supported on folds of skin stretched 



