HO 



MARS UP I A LI A 



Fig 47. — Left lateral view of skull of Gray Cuscus (Plw.l- 

 anger orientalis). After Peters. 



stout and strong, with large vacuities in the hinder half of the 

 palate, and the auditory bullae thick and inflated. Dentition usually 

 i §, c -i, p fj '»< {■ First upper incisor with nearly circular section, 



or only slightly flat- 

 tened in front ; can- 

 ine more or less 

 closely approximated 

 to third incisor 

 (which is very small), 

 and situated partly 

 in front of the suture 

 between the pre- 

 maxilla and maxilla. 

 Fourth premolar 

 large, secant, and 

 placed obliquely to 

 line of molars. 

 Molars four-cusped, 

 with the inner cusps 

 of the upper ones 

 crescentoid, and imperfect transverse ridges connecting each pair 

 of cusps. 



The discuses are curious sleepydooking animals, inhabiting the 

 various islands of the East Indian Archipelago as far west as Celebes, 

 and being the only Marsupials found west of New Guinea. As 

 already noted, it was a member of this genus, the Gray Cuscus 

 (P. orientalis), a native of Amboyna, Timor, and the neighbouring 

 islands, which was the first Australasian Marsupial known to European 

 naturalists. There are altogether five species known, all of about 

 the size of a large cat ; their habits resemble those of other Phalan- 

 gers, except that they are said to be somewhat more carnivorous. 



Trichomrus} — The members of the genus Trichosurus are of 

 relatively large size, and are distinguished from Phalanger by the 

 following characters. Ears more or less hairy behind. Relative 

 lengths of toes of fore feet in the order 4, 3, 2, 5, 1. Hair on the 

 soles of the hind feet beneath the heel, but not elsewhere. Tail 

 thick, not tapering, covered with bushy hair up to the extreme tip, 

 which is naked, but with a naked strip on the inferior surface in 

 the distal third or half. A gland on the chest. Dentition usually 

 * ir > c -o> P h m f- Upper incisors of nearly uniform length, the 

 first much flattened in front. Canine situated some distance behind 

 the third upper incisor, which it scarcely exceeds in size. Last 

 premolar and molars very similar to those of Phalanger. 



The true Phalangers comprise two species, of which the best 

 known is the Vulpine Phalanger (T. vulpecula), so common in 

 1 Lesson, Did. Class. d'Eist. Nat. vol. xiii. p. 333 (1828). 



