Marsupialia — dentition. 



77 



the Diprotodont* division), comprising the vegetable feeders, as Wall-case 



the Kangaroos, Phalangers, and Wombats, the central incisors No. 27. 



are very prominent, and are the only ones in the lower jaw, Table-cases, 



while in the npper jaw the lateral incisors and canines are very g^tiLlQa,' ' 

 subordinate in function, and may be absent. 



Fig. 93.— Teeth of the Opossum (DiddpJn/s), 2sT. America (recent). (i 1-5 upper, 

 and i 1-4 lower incisors ; c, canines, pm 1-3, premolars ; m 1—m 4, molars.) 



Fig. 94. — Bemains of Didelphys (PeraiJurium)fugax (Cope), from the White River 



(Miocene) Beds, Colorado, N. America, a, inferior, b, lateral view of skull; 



c, superior, and d, lateral view of right ramus of mandible. 



Twice natural size. 



Fig. 95.— Inner view of left ramus of mandible of Dromatherium gylvestre (Emmons); 

 from the Trias of North Carolina. Twice natural size. 



As typical representatives at the present day of the Polypro- 

 todont (carnivorous) division we may mention the Didelphiidce or 

 true Opossums, which differ from all other Marsupials in the fact 

 that they are found living on the American Continent, whereas 

 the great home and centre of the Marsupialia is Australia. 

 They are mostly carnivorous or insectivorous in their diet, and 



* From ci=oiQ, irpCJTog, and ooovq, " with two front teeth." 



Table-case, 

 No. 14a. 



