122 Mr. Bell on a new Species of Phalangista. 



semble those of the other species of the genus ; but from 

 the difficulty of examining the back part of the mouth, 

 the molares have not been very accurately observed : they 

 are moreover extremely small, and almost concealed by 

 the gum. The body is particularly flat and broad, and is 

 covered with a very soft and thick fur; the hairs which 

 compose it being of a gray colour tipped with reddish- 

 brown, give the general hue of rufous-gray. The under 

 parts are more sparingly covered with fur of a pale yel- 

 lowish-gray colour, the yellow predominating at the sides, 

 and especially at the throat. The general colour of the 

 face is also yellowish, the upper and back part of the head 

 assuming the rufous-graj?^ colour of the back : there is a 

 blackish ring round the eyes, which passes upwards on 

 each side to the forehead, where it mingles with the general 

 colour of that part. The sides of the neck as well as the 

 throat are buflf. There is a darkish ring partially surround- 

 ing the ears, at the anterior part, interrupted by a distinct 

 ■> * white spot behind each. '' '= "^r?-^ 



The feet are almost entirely concealed by the fur when the ani- 

 mal is at rest ; and even when in an active state, the breadth 

 of the body, combined with the length of the fur, and the 

 extent to which the skin of the sides is attached to the legs, 

 namely, as far as the carpi and tarsi, gives it very much the 

 aspect of a Petaurista, to which genus the present species 

 may, I think, be considered as exhibiting a remarkable 

 approximation. The tail is nearly as long as the body and 

 head together ; it is remarkably broad and thick at the base, 

 to more than half an inch from the origin, at which part it 

 becomes contracted, and then gradually tapers to the ex- 

 tremity. It is hairy, being more thickly covered on the 

 upper part, and especially at the base, where it partakes of 



the 



