cuscus. 87 



NOTE XY. 

 A MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS CUSCUS. 



Dr. P. A. JENTINK. 



February 1885. 



A rare constancy in color of the fur in some species, 

 a nearly endless variety in other species and a very pe- 

 culiar geographical distribution render the study of this 

 beautiful group of Marsupials very difficult but at the 

 same time highly interesting and attractive. A thourough 

 study based upon large and well selected series from the 

 most different and distant localities is the only way to 

 surmount the very difficulties. No wonder therefore that 

 so many naturalists have failed in their efi'orts to recognize 

 and circumscribe the species composing this group. 



The Cuscus-s^ecies have half or more than half the pre- 

 hensile tail destitute of hair and the second and third toes 

 of the hind feet united in a common integument very nearly 

 to the extremity. These two characters combined distin- 

 guish them from all the other Mammals. 



In two species {Cuscus celehensis and Cuscus orientalis) 

 the ears are externally clothed with hairs, internally na- 

 ked ; the two other species ( Cuscus ursinus and Cuscus 

 maculatus) have the ears externally and internally clothed 

 with hairs. In one species , Cuscus maculatus , the sexes 

 are differently colored and the females larger than the 



JVotes from the Leyden IMuseum , "Vol. VIl. 



