ORDER OP MARSUPIALS. 



25 



the Tarsipedes and Bandacoots. They are small marsupial animals, 

 which have, especially the first, much analogy to the Phalangers. 



The Tarsipede is a pi'ctty animal, hardly so large as a mouse ; 

 its muzzle is elongated, and in form like a beak ; and it feeds not 

 only on insects, but also on the nectar of flowers. 



The Bandacoots do not live on trees ; they have strong nails, 

 and dig themselves galleries into which they retire. Insects and 

 roots form the staple of their food. The great toe of their hind 



Fig. 7.— Koala (^Phascutarctus cinercus), 



foot is not opposable. Indeed, they are more nearly analogous to 

 the ordinary Insectivora. The finest species of true Bandacoot 

 (Ferameles lagotis) is about the size of a wild Rabbit, and bears the 

 name of " native Rabbit" amongst the colonists. There are eight 

 or ten others, one of which (P. doreycmus) inhabits New Guinea. 

 AUied to them is a curious little animal of South Australia, known 

 as the Pigfoot [Chceropus cadanotu) . 



Family of Dasyures. — The Dasyures, true Carnivora of the 

 Marsupial order, live but by slaughter and pillage. They have 



