vii MINUTE ARBOREAL FORMS 141 



vulpina), like its American pseudo-namesake (a true Opossum, 

 genus Didelphys), " plays 'possum " on occasions. The dental 

 formula is I % C ^ Pm f M ^. The ears are shortish. 



The Eing-tailed Phalangers, Pseudochirus, are more widely 

 distributed than the last two genera ; they range from Tasmania 

 in the south to New Guinea in the north. They are not, however, 

 ring-tailed, though the tip of the tail is generally white. As 

 in the last genera, which have prehensile tails, the end of this 

 appendage is naked. The mammae are four. The tooth formula 

 is I4C^ Pm ^ M ^. There are some ten species of the genus. 



The Striped Phalanger, Dactylopsila trivirgata, is an animal 

 about a foot long, whose identity can be ascertained by its striped, 

 black and white skin. It is an arboreal creature that lives 

 apparently both on leaves and grubs like so many arboreal 

 creatures of quite different groups Squirrels, for instance, and 

 New- World Monkeys. The tooth formula is I f C ^ Pm f M ^. 



Gymnobelideus leadbeateri is a small creature with a body 

 6 inches in length. It is restricted to the colony of Victoria. 

 The general look is that of Petaurus ; the ears are naked. 



Dromicia is a genus of Phalangers which although devoid of 

 a parachute, such as is possessed by certain genera that will be 

 considered immediately, is able to leap with great agility from 

 branch to branch. The ears are large and thin and almost 

 naked ; the tooth formula is I ^ C ^ Pm | M ^. They are minute 

 creatures, the longest measuring, with the -tail, but 10 inches. 

 Dormouse -Phalanger is a name sometimes given to them. 

 There are four species, ranging from Tasmania to New Guinea. 

 The name Dormouse as applied to the genus seems to be owing 

 to the way in which they hold a nut in the paws when feeding. 

 D. nana is 4 inches long, with a tail of nearly the same 

 length. It is thick at the base. 



Distaecliurus is the last genus of non-flying Phalangers. Its 

 name refers to the arrangement of the hairs on the tail, which 

 are disposed on either side in a row like the vane of a feather. 

 The tooth formula is I -| C ^ Pm ^ M , very nearly as in Aero- 

 bates. The ears are as in that genus. 



Petaurus is the first genus of the Flying Phalangers, all of 

 which are provided with a parachute-like expansion of the skin 

 between the fore- and hind-limbs ; the ears are large and naked : 

 and the tooth formula is If C^Pmf M|. There are three 



