THE LOWEST MAMMALS 
its tail firmly so that it forms a support for the body. 
This is quite analogous to the support given to the 
kangaroo by its tail. 
It has been remarked that the thylacine shows a pre- 
ference for mutton over any other article of diet. Be- 
fore Van Diemen’s land was discovered there were 
plenty of thylacines but no mutton. In those days it 
had to content itself with marsupials only ; an observer, 
however, has stated that nowadays its palate has been 
so vitiated by civilization that it will not satisfy a 
healthy appetite by devouring the wombat, which often 
occurs in plenty near to its haunts. But on the other 
hand a spiny ant-eater (Echidna) was once dug out of 
the stomach of a thylacine, showing that when pressed 
for food it is not particular. The first specimens ever 
acquired by the Zoological Society came over in the 
year 1850. They were shipped in company with 
twelve fat sheep to serve them on the voyage. The 
next thylacines were procured in 1863, and then until 
1883 there were no specimens of this animal procured for 
the Zoo. Since that date, however, there have been 
several ; and it is possible always at any given time 
to find in the Gardens this the largest of existing poly- 
protodont marsupials. It is more likely, however, 
that several of its allies, such as the dasyure and the 
American opossums will be on view. 
ORDER MONOTREMATA, THE ECHIDNA AND THE 
ORNYTHORYNCHUS 
In the general sketch of mammalian organization 
we havedealt with this group, which occupy most cer- 
tainly the lowest position among the mammalia and 
still retain more than one early and non-mammalian 
character in their anatomy. 
148 
