Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/76

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

attached, it is pulled off, it cannot be replaced, even by the mother, for the end of the nipple now being flaccid instead of hard cannot well be inserted into the mouth of the little one.

The illustrations show the fœtus about two days before birth (Plate I. fig. 2); also the young one about life-size, just as it had been born, but not transfixed to the nipple (Plate I. fig. 3); and the nipple with the hardened point just ready for the young one (Plate I. fig. 3). It will be noticed how immature the little one is, and also that its fore legs are much larger than its hind ones. I have the specimens here shown in spirits. It has not yet been proved, as far as I am aware of, how long after birth the young one is able to draw nourishment for itself—probably three months.