﻿8o Allen's naturalist's library. 



wardly enough on the ground, where, if danger threatens, it 

 ahvays seeks safety by endeavouring to reach the nearest tree, 

 up which it soon cHmbs till out of reach of gunshot. When 

 alarmed or wounded, the Koala utters a loud, hoarse groaning 

 cry, which can be heard at a great distance. The flesh is con- 

 sidered a great delicacy by the natives, and is regarded as not 

 unpalatable even by Europeans. Of its pursuit by the natives 

 in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson, Colonel Patterson 

 writes as follows: "The natives examine, with wonderful 

 rapidity and minuteness, the branches of the loftiest gum-trees, 

 and upon discovering a Koala, they climb the tree in which it 

 is seen with as much ease and expedition as a European 

 would mount a tolerably high ladder. Having reached the 

 branches, which are sometimes forty or fifty feet from the 

 ground, they follow the animal to the extremity of a 

 bough, and either kill it with the tomahawk or take it 

 alive. The Koala feeds upon the tender shoots of the blue 

 gum-tree, being more particularly fond of this than of any 

 other food ; it rests during the day on the tops of these trees, 

 feeding at ease or sleeping. In the night it descends and 

 prowls about, scratching up the ground in search of some par- 

 ticular roots." 



The Koala must be an abundant animal, since from 10,000 

 to 30,000 skins are annually imported into London, while in 

 1889 the enormous total of 300,000 was reached. The value 

 of these skins now ranges, according to Poland, from five- 

 pence tea shilling each; and they are mainly used in the 

 manufacture of those articles for which a cheap and durable 

 fur is required. 



THE CUSCUSES. GENUS PHALANGER. 

 Fhalanger, Storr, Prodrom. Method, Mamm., p. :^7, (1780.) 

 The second and chief sub-family {Fhalangerince) of the 



