244 
ZOOLOGY. 
link between birds and mammals, the tongue is long and 
slender, like that of the ant-eater, while the body is armed 
with quills like those of a porcupine, as well as hairs. The 
claws are very large and strong, adapted for tearing open 
ant-hills in order to devour the ants. Its eggs are 2 cm. long. 
General Characters of Marsupials. — These are singular 
forms, represented by the opossum in this country, and the 
kangaroo, with a number of other forms, in Australia. 
They differ from all other mammals in having a pouch 
Fig. 285.— Opossum, with side view of pelvis, with the marsupial bone, M. 
(marsupium) for the reception of the young immediately 
upon birth, where they are attached to the nipples at the 
bottom of the pouch. This large pouch (which is however 
absent in certain opossums and in the ^^Tasmanian devil") 
is supported by two long slender bones (Fig. 285, M) attached 
to the front edge of the pelvis, and projecting forwards. 
In the opossum, the kangaroo, and probably most mar- 
supials, the young, which are very rudimentary and small 
when born, remain in the pouch attached to the nipple, 
which fills the mouth. To this it remains attached for a 
considerable period, the milk being forced down its throat 
by the contraction of the cremaster muscle. The danger 
Sub-Class II. — Marsupialia. 
