﻿THE TAGUAN PHALANGERS. lOI 



be regarded as a specially modified and volant relative of that 

 group. 



I. TAGUAN FLYING PHALANGER. PETAUROIDES VOLANS. 



Didelphis volans, Kerr, Linn. Anim. Kingdom, p. 199 (1792). 

 Fhalanger volans^ Lacepede, Mem. Inst., vol. iii., p. 491 



(1801). 

 Petaurns tagua7ioides , P. macruriis, et P. peronii, Desmarest, 



Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., vol. xxv., pp. 400, 402, 404 



(1817). 

 Petaurista tagiianoides, Desmarest, Mamm.^ vol. i., p. 269 



(1820). 



Petauroides vola?iSy Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 164 



(1888). 



{Plate XIV.) 



Characters. — Fur long, soft, and fluffy. General colour dark 

 ashy-grey, varying from nearly black to pale whitish-grey. 

 Ears very large, oval, and evenly rounded, with the inner sur- 

 face completely naked, and the back covered with fur like that 

 on the head. Under-parts white or pale yellowish. Limbs 

 black or dark brown externally, white or pale grey on the inner 

 surface ; feet thickly fringed with black hairs ; toes very thick : 

 soles naked, with low, finely striated, and rounded pads. Tail 

 ashy-grey or blackish, generally darkest terminally, with a short 

 naked portion, which passes gradually into the haired region, 

 and its surface less roughened. Length of liead and body 

 about 17 inches; of tail 20 inches. 



Distribution. — Eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria. 



Variety. — Replaced in Central Queensland by a variety {P. 

 mi?tor) differing from the typical form by its inferior size, and 

 the feeble development of the upper canine and first premolar 

 teeth, the latter being minute, or even absent. Length of head 

 and bo^v about 12 inches ; of tail 18 inches. 



