﻿114 ALLEN'S NATURALISTS LIBRARY. 



large, narrow, evenly oval. Limbs grey, with the fore feet 

 brown, and the hinder ones whitish. Tail rather long, with the 

 basal inch thickened. Length of head and body about 4 inches; 

 of tail rather more. 



Distribution. — Tasmania. 



Habits. — This elegant little Phalanger, according to Gould, is 

 more especially abundant in the northern districts of Tasmania 

 than elsewhere in the country ; and of all trees it apparently 

 prefers the Banksias, whose numerous blossoms supply it with 

 an unfailing supply of honey and insects. During the day it 

 generally lies coiled up asleep in some crevice 3r hollow branch. 



Daring the winter months it becomes less active, and under 

 goes a kind of hibernation, although less complete than in the 

 case of the Dormouse. 



Writing from observations made on specimens kept in cap- 

 tivity. Bell observes that in their habits these little Phalangers 

 " are extremely like the Dormouse, feeding on nuts and other 

 similar food, which they hold in their fore paws, using them as 

 hands. They are nocturnal, remaining asleep during the whole 

 day, or, if disturbed, not easily roused to a state of activity ; 

 and coming forth late in the evening, and then assuming their 

 natural rapid and vivacious habits, they run about a small 

 tree which is placed in their cage, using their paws to hold by 

 the branches, and assisting themselves by their prehensile tail, 

 which is always held in readiness to support them, especially 

 when in a descending attitude. Sometimes the tail is thrown 

 in a reverse direction, turned over the back, and at other times, 

 when the weather is cold, it is rolled closely up towards the 

 under-part, and coiled up almost between the thighs. When 

 eating, they sit upon the hind quarters, holding the food in 

 their fore paws, which, with the face, are the only parts ap- 

 parently standing out from the ball of fur, of which the body 



