BY ed(;ah h. waite. 579 



fur harsher than on the bod}', it yradually lengthens towards the 

 tip and forms a distinct tuft. 



Colour. — Face grey, passing into chestnut and rufous on the 

 head, upper surface of body dark warm brown, l^lack at and 

 around point of radiation, and generally dark on the vertebral 

 line; this colour passes into a lighter tint on the sides, haunches 

 and rump ; back of neck rich reddish-brown, fading into chestnut 

 at the sides, but again becoming redder on the throat ; this colour 

 also extends along the front edge of the fore limbs. Eyebrows, 

 eyelashes and whiskers black and scanty: the chin has also black 

 whisker-like hairs. The lower surface is generally darker from 

 the chest to the pouch, thence more rusty and lighter beyond. 

 Fore feet black; hind feet black with lighter hairs above. All 

 the toes and claws black. At the upper base of the tail is a 

 conspicuous reddish-brown patch passing abruptly into black, 

 which colour extends for four or five inches and almost as suddenly 

 gives place to light rufous-brown ; this tint extends to within a 

 third of the tip and insensibly merges into black. The ventral 

 surface is black throughout its length. 



In the young male the colours are not nearly so rich, the back 

 is grey, becoming lighter on the sides and rump, an ill defined 

 vertebral line much darker : dorsal surface of tail darker than in 

 the adult. The division between the colour of the limbs and the 

 feet much more strongly marked. 



The two skins purchased with these specimens are somewhat 

 intermediate in age and colour. In l)oth, the dorsal surface of the 

 tail is very light, but all agree in having the entire ventral surface 

 black. 



The dorsal surface of an animal, including the tail, is usually 

 darker than the ventral surface. To this rule exceptions are 

 extremely few ; an excellent instance is Grisonia vittata, Schreb. 



In both the Queensland Dendrolayi the colouration of the tail 

 is reversed, the ventral surface being the darker. From the habits 

 of D. bennetticoius, observed by Messrs. Etheridge and Thorpe, and 

 of D. luinhoUzi by Mr. Grant, it may be inferred that the change 

 in posture caused this change in the disposition of colour. 



