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NATURAL HISTORY OF THE KANGAROO.
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Peramelidæ—a family made up of creatures none of which much exceed the hare in size, and which, instead of feeding on vegetable substances (as do the kangaroos), eat insects, for which food they are well adapted by the sharp points and ridges which may be seen on their back teeth.
Fig. 7.—Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles).
One member of this family, Chæropus (Fig. 8), is very exceptional in the structure of its hind-feet, which out-kangaroo the kangaroo in the
Fig. 8.—Chæropus.
minuteness of all the toes but the fourth, upon which alone the creature walks, while its front-feet are each reduced to two functional digits.
