﻿ii6 aixen's naturalist's library. 



For a long time this well-marked species was mistaken for 

 the young of Dro??iicia nana, until its distinctive features were 

 pointed out by Mr. Thomas. Although externally the two are 

 very similar, they present marked points of difference in the 

 skull and teeth. 



THE PEN-TAILED PHALANGERS. GENUS DIST^CHURUS. 



DistcEcJmrus^ Peters, Ann. Mus. Geneva, vol. vi., p. 303 (1874). 



Size small ; ears rather short, thinly haired, but with small 

 tufts round the base ; no parachute-like expansion of skin on 

 the flanks ; toes of normal proportions ; claws sharp and 

 curved ; tail with the long hairs arranged in two opposite 

 lateral rows like the vanes of a feather. Molar teeth three in 

 number, small and rounded, with smooth unridged cusps; the 

 last premolar very small in the upper, and wanting in the 

 lower jaw. Two teats. 



PEN-TAILED PHALANGER. DIST^CHURUS PENNATUS. 



Fhalangista {DistcEchiirus) pennata, Peters, Ann. Mus. Genova, 



vol. vi., p. 303 (1874). 

 Fhalangista pennata^ Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc, N. South 



Wales, vol. ii., p. 12 (1878). 

 DistiBchurus pennatus^ Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 



139 (1888). 



Characters. — Form very Dormouse-like ; fur soft, thick, and 

 woolly. General coloration of head striped, of body dull 

 buft ; under-parts white ; face white, with two dark bands 

 running from the sides of the muzzle through the eyes to 

 between the ears. Naked portion of muzzle sharply defined, 

 and pentagonal in shape. Outei sides of limbs like back, 

 inner sides like under-parts ; soles of feet smooth, with low 

 and rounded pads : tail considerably longer than the head and 



