572 ON DESDROLAGUS BEX XETTIAXUS, DE VIS, 



I regret that I missed the opportunity of seeing the animals 

 alive. They were visited by my colleague, Mr. Robert Etheridge, 

 jun., and our Taxidermist, Mr. J. A. Thoi^pe, and to them I am 

 indebted for the following observations made upon them while in 

 port : — 



During the voyage the Tree Kangaroos were fed upon milk and 

 unripe bananas, and, with one or two exceptions, appeared to be 

 doing well. Their behaviour gives one the idea that they are 

 nocturnal, or at least crepuscular animals. While in daylight 

 they seem inclined to sleep ; in this condition the body is bent 

 forward until the snout is almost between the thighs, the fore feet 

 being placed close to the cheeks. 



Normally the ears have a horizontal aspect, but are drooped 

 somewhat during sleep. When the animal is alarmed they are 

 sviddenly pricked, but never pressed backwards ; in this respect 

 they resemble the Phalangers. 



Although the arrangement of the hair was particularly obseined, 

 I am told that where the hair of the back and the face meet ver}' 

 little indication of a crest was noticed in the living animal. 



It was further observed, and special stress is laid upon this 

 point, that the tail was usually passed under the body and carried 

 in front ; also that it occupied a similar position when the animal 

 slept. So constantly was the tail carried in this manner that my 

 informants consider it an habitual trait of the creature. 



This position would bring the ventral side of the tail uppermost, 

 a peculiarity which will be further noticed. This habit, if such 

 it proves to be, albeit somewhat curious, is not without parallel. 

 We shall recall the habits of the Lemuroidea, members of which 

 habitually sleep with their tails beneath them, but as this member 

 is frequently passed round the neck or disposed of about some 

 other part of the body, it does not follow that the aspect of the 

 tail is reversed as in the Dendrolagi. 



Mr. le Souef also observed that these animals carried their tails 

 differently to other Macropodidfe, for he writes* : — " When on 



* Loi:. cit. p. 13. 



