168 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(228) THE INDIAN ANT-EATER. 

 (MANIS PENTADAOTYLA— Linn.) 

 Hab. — The drier parts of India. 



(229) THE MALAYAN ANT-EATER. 

 (MANIS JAVANICA— Blyth.) 



Hab. — Burmah, Malacca, Java, and Borneo. 



The garden has not yet succeeded in keeping these animals alive 

 for any length of time, owing chiefly to the difficulty of procuring 

 regularly and in sufficient quantity their natural diet, the termites. 

 On one or two occasions they have even been known to take no notice 

 of this food when placed within their reach. Various other things have 

 from time to time been tried, but without avail. They are now, if 

 received, generally let loose to forage for themselves. A manis has 

 been found to swim across a tank 110 feet wide, and burrow under the 

 foundation of a wall 6 feet deep. 



(230) THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 

 (DIDELPHYS VIRGINIANA— Shaw.) 



It has a long prehensile tail, and long bristle-like hair, mingled 

 with fur. 



Hab. — Temperate North America, as well as central and tropical 

 South America. 



A specimen lived for about a year only. 



(231) GEOFFROY'S DASYURE. 

 (DASYUEUS GEOFFKOYI— Gould.) 



A small civetlike animal, with a yellowish brown coat, profusely 

 spotted with white. 



Halj^ — Found almost all over Australia. 



Length of life in captivity. 



These animals have on the whole done well here, a pair having 

 lived over six years. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — May be treated like shrews and small cats. 

 Food. — Finely minced meat and egg. They are particularly 

 fond of small mammals, such as rats and mice. 



Observations on their habits. 



Very retiring in disposition and thoroughly nocturnal, hiding the 

 whole day under straw or inside a box. 



