356 VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 



ranging from 50 to 54. In this respect and in several others they 

 resemble the Mesozoic marsupials. Myrmecobius has no pouch. 



Family 3. Dasyuridoe {Carnivorous Masuspials). — This is a some- 

 what heterogeneous family of marsupials, ranging from mouse-like 

 to badger-like types. They may or may not have a pouch. Dasyurus 

 viverrinus, the " native cat " (Fig. 184, C) is less cat-like in appearance 

 than marten-like. It feeds largely on birds and their eggs. Sar- 

 cophilus ursinus, the "Tasmanian devil" (Fig. 184, H), is an animal 

 about the size and shape of a badger. It has the reputation of being 

 one of the most ferocious of animals, with a devilish "yelling growl." 

 Native Australians say, however, that it is rather a slinking than an 

 openly pugnacious creature. Phascologale is a genus of small animals 

 not unlike some of the smaller American opossums in appearance and 

 habits. Sminthopsis is a genus of pouched mice. Antechinomys is a 

 genus of jumping mice, with long ears and legs. 



Family 4- Thylacynidce (Thylacynes) . — This family is represented 

 by the single species Thyla£inus cynocephalus (Fig. 184, G), which 

 receives the name of the "Tasmanian wolf." The creature is less 

 like a wolf than like some of the smaller members of the Cat family, 

 but the Australians must have some sort of "wolf," and this is the 

 nearest approach that the marsupials can afford. It is a predaceous 

 animal, almost as large as a small wolf, with a dog-like head and a 

 series of tiger-like bands across the back and tail. 



Family 6. Peramelidce {Bandicoots). — There are three genera in 

 this family. Perameles is a genus of twelve species of medium sized 

 forms, with the pouch opening backwards. Peragale (Fig. 184, F) 

 is a genus of two species of "rabbit bandicoots," which have the 

 habit of burrowing in the soil for grubs and other soil insects. Chaero- 

 pus castanotis is the "pig-footed bandicoot," also a burrowing form, 

 with only two toes on the fore feet. 



Family 6. Notary didm {Marsupial or Pouched Moles). — This fam- 

 ily is represented by a single species, Notoryctes typhlops (Fig. 184, E), 

 a South Australian mole-like animal, with silky reddish-gold fur, 

 which harmonizes with the color of the arid soil in which it burrows. 

 It has a complete set of mole-like adaptations and leads a thoroughly 

 mole-like life. The eyes are rudimentary; there are no external ear 

 lobes; the fore feet are armed with extremely heavy burrowing claws, 

 the third and fourth being much more conspicuous than the rest; 

 the tail is- very short and stumpy. 



