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THE KOALA, OR AUSTRALIAN BEAR. 



are many gentle animals, to sudden and unexpected gusts of passion, and when it is excited 

 by rage it puts on a very fierce look, and utters sharp and shrill yells in a very threatening 

 manner. Its usual voice is a peculiar soft bark. 



The head of this animal has a very unique aspect, on account of the tufts of long hairs 

 which decorate the ears. The muzzle is devoid of hair, but has the curious property of feeling 

 like cotton velvet when gently stroked with the fingers. There is a naked patch of skin that 

 begins at the muzzle and extends for a small space towards the head, and over the whole of 

 this bare patch the peculiar velvety feeling is exhibited. The upper jaw projects slightly over 

 the lower. The generic name, Phascolarctos, is of Greek origin, signifying " pouched bear/ ' 

 and is very appropriate to the animal. As soon as the young Koala is able to leave the pouch, 



KOALA, OR AUSTRALIAN BKAR.-Phascolarctos dnereus. 



the mother transposes it. to her back, where it clings with its hand-like paws, and remains 

 there for some considerable time. 



It is said by those who have seen the animal in its wild state, that it is truly deserving of 

 the name of Australian Sloth, which has been applied to it because it is able to cling with its 

 feet to the branches after the manner of the sloths, and to suspend itself from the boughs 

 much after the same fashion. 



This animal is rather prettily colored, the body being furnished with fur of a fine gray 

 color, warmed with a slight reddish tinge in the adult animal, and fading to a whitish-gray in 

 the young. The claws are considerably curved, and black ; and the ears are tufted with long 

 white hairs. In size it equals a small bull-terrier dog, being, when, adult, rather more than 

 two feet in length, and about ten inches in height, when standing. The circumference of the 

 body is about eighteen inches, including the fur. 



On account of the tree-climbing habits of the Koala, it is sometimes called the Australian 

 Monkey as well as the Australian Bear. 



THE animals which come next under consideration are truly worthy of the title of 

 Macropidse, or long-footed, as their hinder feet are most remarkable for their comparative 

 length, and in almost every instance are many times longer than the fore-feet. This structure 



