that the warm-blooded quadrupeds of this region are generally
constructed for an earlier exclusion of the embryo from the
uterus than those of other regions. The plastic operations
of nature, or those physical processes, which, under the guidance
of a supreme intelligence, gave origin and a peculiar
modification to the different tribes of organized beings,J are
beyond our scrutiny. It may perhaps hereafter be discovered
hpw such a peculiarity of structure is adapted to the
local conditions of the region, what congruity or fitness there
is between them. But that there is a local relation between
these modifications of form and the climate in which they display
themselves is undoubted: in order to be convinced of
it we need only survey hastily the distribution of the mono*
tremes and marsupial tribes.
“ Previous to 1789,” says M. Lesson, “ the only marsupials
known were the didelphes or filanders of America, mentioned
by Marcgraf and Pison, and the phalanger of the Moluccas;
described by Valentine, and figured by Seba. Buffon knew
only six didelphes ; one cbiroHeetes, viz. the little otter of
Guyana; two phalangers or couscous. Naturalists of the
present day have distinguished with accuracy twelve gOfiera
of these animals, in which are Comprised a great number of
species.”
Though the marsupial animals are considered as a single
family, a term which might be applied in one sense to the
rest of the mammalia, they differ widely in all other respects.
Among them are found true carnivorous animals as 'wel^ as
insectivorous, rodentia or gnawers, herbivora and edentata.
These tribes differ in respect to their teeth, their digestive
organs, their feet, and consequently- their diabits. The
dasyuri are carnivorous, and correspond to the weasel
tribe of the old world. The thylacine represents the wolf,
and has been described as belonging to the canine family.
The sarigaes belong tcT America, the phalangers to the Moluccas,
the parameles are found in New Guinea as well as
in New Holland; but by far the greater part of this, numerous
family, including a very considerable number of species, belong
exclusively to Terra Australis. This character, as
M, Lesson observes of marsupiality, seems to form for New
Holland a true zoological law, from which only three mam-
mifers can be excepted ;—namely, the roussette orfrugivorous
bat of the intertropical parts, the phocss on the shores, and
the Australian dog which followed the miserable natives in
their first emigration into this destitute region. M. Lesson
here associates with the marsupialia the monotremes, which
have the rudiments ofi- the same structure, but he does not
confound these different tribes'. “ Rien ailleurs,” he says,
P ne peut donner l’idée.des êtres singuliers qu’on aÿnommés
paradoxeaux, ét qui sont Pomithorhynque et l’echiané; « Le
premier/ à corps couvert de poils, à bec de canard, à pieds
garnis d’ergots, veneneux, pondant des oeufs, semble être une
creature fantastique, jetée sur le globe pour renverser par sa
presence tous les systèmes admis sur l’histoire naturelle;
car on pêut soutenir avec tout autant de raison qu’elle appartient
aux quadrupèdes,; aux oiseaux, ou aux reptiles.”
- The same writer has observed that few countries are so rich
in ornithology as New Holland, and that similar phenomena
bf singularity to those which characterise thé mammifers
offfehat region appear also in its birds. The greater part, unable
to derive, subsistence from fruits which are wanting to
the Australian forests, have peculiar modes of sustenance $
those which feed upon insects have tongues organized as in
the birds iof other climates, but the parroquets, (the merles
and many of the “passereaux) obliged to pump out the sweet
sluices which exudfe from the corollæ of flowers, are endowed
at the extremity of the tongue with bundles of papillae, resembling
a pencil, (pinceau,) enabling them to absorb the
whole of this fluid,.which -is only to be obtained in sparing
quantities. The birds of this region vary in the colours o f
their plumagey but are generally remarkable for some singularity
of structure or plumage. Thus instead of the swan of
other countries, of a spotless white, New Holland has
one of a deep black, and it has black cacatoos replacing the
white cacatoos of the Moluccas.* The most frightful reptiles
* Ce serait outrepasser les bornes de cet article, que de s’étendre longuement
sur les espécestares, et curieuses qui peuplent cet étrange climat ; nous ne pouvons
nbùs dispenser, toutefois de citer quelques biseaux de plus remarkables parmi