﻿io8 Allen's naturalist's library. 



necessity, such as when the trees are so far apart as to render it 

 impossible to traverse the space by leaping. When pursued, it 

 takes to the highest branches, and springs from tree to tree 

 with great rapidity, reminding me of monkeys I have seen in 

 the forests of Singapore, which, when frightened, exhibit a 

 similar degree of activity. It contrives to elude its pursuers by 

 leaps, which, giving an impetus to the body, are very materially 

 aided by the expanded membrane between the fore and hind 

 feet. This enables the animal to pass over a very considerable 

 distance in its leaps. It is surprising to see it jumping from 

 branch to branch and tree to tree, in the clear and delightful 

 atmosphere of a fine Australian moonlight night, with so extra- 

 ordinary a degree of skill and rapidity. But I remarked that 

 the flying leaps were invariably downwards, in an oblique 

 direction, and, that when desirous of ascending, the creature 

 would climb rapidly, and if overtaken would cling so tena- 

 ciously to the bark of the tree, as, while living, to be very 

 difficult of removal. Having become tamer from confinement, 

 the animal would suffer itself to be handled without scratching 

 and biting as at first, and would lick the hand for sweets, of 

 which it was very fond, and permit its little nose to be touched 

 and fur examined in any gentle manner ; but if anyone at- 

 tempted to take it up by the body it became most violent in 

 temper, biting and scratching with savage rage, at the same time 

 uttering its snarling, wheezing, spitting kind of guttural growl. 

 If caught by the tail it would be more quiet (excepting if held 

 too long in one position), and would spread the membrane as if 

 to save itself from falling. . . . It is a crepuscular and 

 night animal, sleeping most of the day coiled up in a circle, 

 with its bushy tail thrown over it like a blanket ; it occasion- 

 ally wakes up and feeds a little, but appears then to be defective 

 in vision and unable to endure the strong glare of daylight, 

 soon seeking its dark retreat and repose ; but in the dusk of 



