﻿THE DORMOUSE-PHALANGERS. II5 



seems at that time to be composed. They are perfectly harm- 

 less and tame, permitting anyone to hold and caress them, 

 without even attempting to bite, but do not evince the least 

 attachment to persons about them or even to each other." 



III. LONG-TAILED DORMOUSE-PHALANGER. DROMICIA CAUDATA. 



Dromicia caudata, Milne-Edwards, Comptes Rendus, vol.lxxxv., 



p. 1079 (1879); Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 143 



(1888). 



Cliaracterj. — The largest species; fur very long, soft, and silky. 



General colour dull rufous ; under-parts pale yellowish-white, 



with the bases of the hairs slaty ; face rufous fawn, with two 



broad black bands passing from the nose through the eyes 



nearly to the ears. Ears rather long and narrow, regularly oval, 



naked ; legs grey ; feet dull fawn ; tail much longer than the 



head and body, very thin, furry like the body for half-an-inch 



at the root, but elsewhere short-haired. Four molar teeth. 



Distriljution. — North-west New Guinea. 



IV. LESSER DORMOUSE-PHALANGER. DROMICIA LEPIDA. 



Dromicia lepida, Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 142 

 (1888). 



Characters. — Size small ; form slender and graceful ; fur fine, 

 soft, and silky ; nose finely granulated. General colour pale 

 bright fawn ; hairs of under-parts dark slaty tipped with white ; 

 a conspicuous dark eye-mark. Ears large, broad, and nearly 

 naked ; soles of feet naked and finely granulated ; tail rather 

 long, with the basal half-inch thickly furred, the remainder 

 short-haired and slightly scaly. Four pairs of molar teeth. 

 Length of head and body rather less than that of the tail, which 

 is about 3 inches. 



Distribution. — Tasmania. 



I 2 



