The Living Animals of the World, Volume I: Mammals

Marsupials and Monotremes 375

THE NATIVE CATS.

The animals common in Tasmania and throughout the greater portion of the Australian- Continent, and familiarly known as SPOTTED or NATIVE CATS, and to zoologists as DASYURES, enjoy also an unenviable reputation for their depredations among the settlers' hen-roosts. To look at, these native cats are the most mild-mannered and inoffensive of creatures. Actually, however, they possess the most bloodthirsty proclivities, and may be aptly compared in their habits to the stoats, weasels, polecats, and other Old World carnivora. There are some five known species, the largest being equal to an ordinary cat in size, and the smaller ones about half these dimensions. All of them are distinguished by their spotted pattern of ornamentation, such spots being white or nearly so, and more or less abundantly sprinkled over a darker background which varies from light grey to chocolate-brown. In the commonest form, represented in the accompanying photograph, the ears and the under surface of the body are also often white. No two individuals, however, are to be found precisely alike in the pattern of their

Sy permission of S. Sinclair, Esq.] [Sydney.

SPOTTED DASYURES, OB AUSTRALIAN NATIVE CATS.

This species is rather smaller than an ordinary-sized cat. All the dasyures are aboroal in their habits, and very destructive to birds.

markings. The dasyures differ from the two preceding types, the Tasmanian wolf and the devil, in being essentially arboreal in their habits, living by day and breeding, as the majority of the Australian opossums, in the hollow gum-tree trunks, from which they emerge at nightfall to seek their food. This, in their native state, when hen-roosts are not accessible, consists-mainly of birds and such smaller marsupial forms as they can readily overpower.

THE POUCHED MICE.

The so-called POUCHED MICE represent a group of smaller-sized carnivorous mammals which have much in common with the dasyures, but are devoid of their spotted ornamentation. None of them exceed a rat in size. They number about twelve or fourteen known species, and are distributed throughout the greater part of Australia and New Guinea, and extend thence to the Aru Islands. They are said not to occur in the extreme north of the Australian Continent. The writer, however, obtained an example of the brush-tailed species,

of the World The Living Animals376 here illustrated, from the neighbourhood of Broome, in the farthest north or Kimberley district of Western Australia. This specimen, which was caught alive in a rat-trap, exhibited astonishingly potent gnawing powers, almost succeeding one night in eating its way through the wooden box in which it was temporarily confined. The habits of this species are omnivorous, and chiefly akin to those of the ordinary rats, it being accustomed to prowl round the out-buildings at night, picking up any unconsidered trifles in the way of food that may be left unprotected. Many of the smaller members of this tribe are no larger than mice; and in one form, known as the JERBOA POUCHED MOUSE, inhabiting Queensland and New South Wales, the hind limbs are abnormally prolonged, and the animal progresses by leaps and bounds, after the fashion of the true jerboas, or its nearer relatives, the ordinary kangaroos and rat-kangaroos.

THE BANDED ANT-EATER.

One of the most interesting from the PMo * w. sa.iae.Kent, F.Z.8. }

BRUSH-TAILED POUCHED MOUSE, OR pHAscoGALE. zoologist's standpoint, and the last on A slender and graceful animal, the largest of the thirteen known species, and OUr list of the Australian marsupials, is limited in its habitat abont the size of an ordinary, at. the ^^ creature, to Western Australia, locally known as the SQUIRREL. The BANDED ANT-EATER, with reference it is usually chronicledto its striped ornamentation and ant-eating habits, is the name by which in natural history works. In size and shape, except for its more pointed snout, its squirrellike aspect is certainly somewhat striking. Like the true ant-eaters of the Edentate Mammalian Order, it, however, possesses a long protrusile tongue, with which it is accustomed in a similar manner to lick up the ants which constitute its main food-supply.

The most interesting biological peculiarity of this animal is the abnormal development of its teeth. These number as many as from fifty-two to fifty-six, and exceed the dental formula of any other known existing marsupial. The usual colour of this interesting little animal is a warm chestnut-brown, banded transversely over the back with white, these stripes being widest and most conspicuous over the hindquarters. This somewhat paradoxical marsupial possesses no pouch, the young, when first born and attached to the nipples in the manner characteristic of ordinary marsupials, being covered over and concealed among the longer hairs that clothe the abdominal region. In the dasyures, or native cats, previously described, the pouch exists only in a rudimentary condition, its function being fulfilled by merely a few okin-folds; while in the " tiger " and native devil the pouch, contrary to that of the kangaroos, opens backwards. In disposition the banded ant-eater presents a marked contrast to that of many of the preceding types. Caught in its native habitat, it does not attempt to bite, and soon becomes reconciled to captivity. The peculiar nature of its diet, however, militates against its being easily transported over-sea from the Antipodes.

Marsupials and Monotremes 377

THE AMERICAN OPOSSUMS.

The little group of the American marsupials contains some three or four generically distinct types whose relationship with the Australian members of the order is in the direction of the dasyures and bandicoots rather than with the kangaroos and phalangers. Included in one family, they are popularly known as Opossums, but differ among themselves very consider- Photo by W. Samlle-Kent, F.Z.S.] [MUfonl-on-St' ably both in aspect and habits. BANDED ANT-EATEK. The most remarkable among From an anatomical point of view, this is one of the most remarkable of the pouched mammals.them is undoubtedly the so-called YAPOCK, or WATER- OPOSSUM, an inhabitant of South America, and ranging in its distribution from Guatemala to Brazil. In both form and habits this animal so closely resembles an otter that it was referred by the earlier naturalists to the Otter Tribe. It tunnels holes in the banks of the rivers it frequents, and feeds entirely upon fish, Crustacea, and aquatic insects. The feet, and more especially the hind ones, are distinctly webbed; the tail is naked, scaly, and non-prehensile; is aand the fur is short and thick, as in the ordinary otters. The ground-tint of the fur light grey: this is diversified by a black or dark brown stripe that runs down the centre of the back, and expands over the shoulders, loins, and hindquarters into saddle-shaped patches or bands of the same dark hue.

The COMMON or VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM, while the only representative of the Marsupial Order found in the temperate latitudes of the North American Continent, has a very considerable range of distribution, occurring in equal abundance throughout the tropical regions of South America. In these warmer latitudes it differs to such an extent in the character of its fur and other minor points that it was for some ' time regarded as a distinct species, and was distinguished by the title of the CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM. Biologists are, however, now agreed that the supposed species is only a local variety. As a matter of fact, a very considerable amount of variation in the colour and markings is found to exist among the individuals of the most familiarly known northern race. In form the animal may be suitably compared to a huge rat, nearly equalling a cat in size, with an abnormally large head and pointed snout. The tail is long, almost naked for the greater portion of its length, and pre-eminently prehensile. The fur is of a mixed character, consisting of an undergrowth of a fine, close, woolly texture, through which protrudes a less dense series of long bristle-like hairs. The colour of the fur ranges from black to white, and includes all varieties of intermixture. The face, more especially in the northern race, is usually much the lightest or altogether white, while in the tropical South American examples it is more often darker, or it may be completely black. is an omnivorous feeder; and being of so much larger size, and The opossum, like the rat, possessing an insatiable appetite, constitutes itself a veritable pest to the fruit-grower, the agriculturist, and the poultry-farmer. In effecting its entrance to hen-roosts or other food-yielding enclosures, it exhibits an amount of cunning and pertinacity possessed by no other in these depredations, it has recourse to stratagems whichmammal. Caught red-handed have won for it a reputation that has long since passed into a household word. Feigning death, or "playing 'possum," is a game at which it is well known to be a past-master, but by 48

of the World378 The Living Animals

which it still frequently succeeds in hoodwinking the unwary, and so saves its skin. Discovered thieving, and receiving perhaps a haphazard but by no means disabling blow, it at once collapses, and with film-covered to- eyes and protruding tongue is all intents and purposes dead. It may be kicked round the premises, and finally probably taken up by the tail and flung ignominiously outside, without betraying vitality by even so-much as a wink. But no sooner is the coast thoroughly clear of the avenger than the stiffened limbs relax, the eyes reopen, and Photo by W. Brer 'Possum trots off, as fresh YAPOCK, OB WATER-OPOSSUM. as ever. Maybe it is the ripen- In habits, although not in size and colour, this marsupial may be compared to a wolf. ing maize or the persimmon-patch that next engages his attention, and in either case he walks in and feeds right royally,, laying up a goodly store of fat against the approaching winter months of scarcity. is an essentially arboreal animal, living and Away from human habitations the opossum breeding for the most part, like his Australian cousins, in hollow trees, and making excursions therefrom in all directions in quest of food. His much-mixed natural diet may consist of tender shoots and leaves, and the wild grapes and the many other berries and fruits the forest after a due admixture of animal pabulum, and birds and theirproduces. He craves, however, eggs, insects, lizards, and the smaller mammals furnish their quota to his menu. Crustacea, such as crabs and the crayfish which abound in the American streams and marshes, have an. irresistible attraction for him; and it is on this account that, in the southern area of his distribution, where these Crustacea are so plentiful as to constitute his main diet, and his face-title of the Crab-eater.is browned by the more glowing sun, he is known by the

Although fattening up against the winter, he, even in his most northern limits, does not hibernate, but may even be seen leisurely picking his way over the snow, probably tracking some unfortunate squirrel to its lair, which in due time is located, dragged out, and devoured. While assimilating his meal of flesh or fruit, Brer 'Possum likes to have all four hands at liberty, his hind feet being also graspers; and so he twists his tail round a convenient branch, and, hanging perdu, leisurely enjoys his feast. The opossum, like the rat to which it has in aspect and many of its habits been likened is a most prolific breeder, as many as from six to sixteen young being comprised in the litter. When born, they are immediately transferred to the somewhat capacious pouch, and remain there without venturing outside until they are about the size of an ordinary mouse. is the one represented on- A third and very distinct type of American opossums page 380, which, from its mouse-like size and aspect, is commonly known as the MuiiiNE OPOSSUM. The most distinct feature of this little animal is that, though a genuine marsupial, it has no pouch, but carries its young on its back, the little creatures twining their tails round that of their mother, and so securing a stable anchorage. Although thus loaded up and transformed for the time being into a sort of combination perambulator and feeding-flask, the happy but anxious parent pursues the even tenor of her way among the tree-branches and thicket-growths with almost unabated agility. This species, in common with MERIAM'S OPOSSUM as a dozenand the WOOLLY OPOSSUM and several others which carry their young, to as many