﻿io6 Allen's naturalist^s librap.v. 



in the order 4, 5, 3, 2, 1. Tail decidedly more bushy at the 

 base than in the species mentioned. Length of head and body 

 about 7 inches ; of tail 8 inches. 



Distribution. — Northern and Eastern Australia. Introduced 

 into Tasmania in 1835. 



Variety. — In New Guinea and the adjacent islands, from the 

 Halmahera group eastwards to New Britain, the typical form of 

 this species, which, except for the smaller size of its cheek-teeth, 

 is frequently very difficult to separate from/*, sciureus^ is replaced 

 by a very well-marked variety. In this Papuan Flying Phalan- 

 ger (var. P. papiianus) the fur is shorter and closer than in the 

 typical form ; while, owing to this shortness, the stripe on the 

 back and the other markings are more distinctly defined. The 

 relatively small ears are also generally narrower and less 

 rounded than in the Australian form ; while there is some 

 difference in the hairing of the under surface of the hind feet. 

 The teeth are likewise relatively smaller and lighter. 



If these differences were invariable, they might perhaps be 

 taken to indicate that the Papuan form is a distinct species, but 

 the specimens from the Aru Islands tend to bridge over the 

 difference between the Australian and New Guinea forms. 



in. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYING PHALANGER. PETAURUS 



AUSTRALIS. 



Petaurtcs australis, Shaw, Nat. MiscelL, vol. ii., pi. Ix. (1791); 



Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 151 (1888). 

 Didelphys petaurus^ Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i., pt. 2, p. 496 



(1800). 

 Phalangista petaurus^ Cuvier, Rbgne Animal, vol. i., p. 180 



(1817). 



Petaurus flaviventer^ Desmarest, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., 

 vol. XXV., p. 403 (181 7). 



