314 



MAMMAI.R 



fold, or pouch of skin, tlie iiiai-siipium, on tho ventral side 

 of the abdomen. The young are born very immature, and 

 are imine(Hately placed by the mother in this bag, and are 

 there carried for several months. 



Opossum. — As with the kangaroos, there are several 

 species of opossums; but tho \'irginia opossum, found from 



New York to Texas and 

 south is the best known. 

 The female has a pouch 

 in which the young are 

 carried for some nionth.s. 

 They are only about one 

 half inch long when born, 

 and are immediately put 

 in the pouch by the 

 mother. This opo.ssuin 

 is about the size of a cat 

 and is dirty white in 

 color. It has a long, 

 naked tail, like a rat's 

 tail, antl lives largely in 

 trees (Fig. 20(1). 



The mai'supials are 

 closely related to the egg-laying mammals, for, although 

 they do not actually lay eggs, they (■(.ime near tloing so, as 

 shown by the very immature young. 



206. — Y<Mni^ o|.)(iss 

 ratlikc tail. 



.\.)U- its 



Tin.; TooTRij.:s,s MAM^^.\I,s (Ericnia/a) 



The efleiildles are maiiniKils in irln'rii Ihr Irclh are abseni 

 or niij)erf(Tlhi ilevclo/x'd in Ihr (iiliill. Sdiiictlntrs molars 

 and premolars are i>reseiil , I>hI Ihei) nerer form rools and do 



