﻿THE POUCHED MICE. I73 



find rather crisp. General colour grey, suffused with yellow or 

 rufous ; under-parts yellow or rufous. Ears rather large, naked 

 above and tufted externally at the base with yellow or grey 

 hairs. Limbs coloured more or less like the under-parts ; soles 

 of hind feet naked, with six pads, that of the hallux being 

 usually divided ; claws small and delicate. Tail short-haired, 

 brown or yellow above, paler beneath, the terminal inch black 

 in some examples. Eight teats. Length of head and body 

 about 5 inches ; of tail 3}^ inches. 



Distribution. — From New Guinea throughout Eastern Australia 

 to South Australia. 



Variety, — Replaced in Western and Northern Australia by a 

 variety {F. leuco;asUr of Gray) distinguished from the typical 

 form by the nearly or quite pure white hue of the under-parts 

 and limbs, in which the bases of the hairs still, however, retain 

 the normal slaty grey tint. 



It may be mentioned that Mr. Thomas gives the distribution 

 of this species as exclusively x\ustralian, and that its extension 

 to New Guinea is added on the authority of Mr. Ogilby. 



In its Australian haunts this species, according to Gould, 

 may frequently be seen both on the ground and in trees. 

 When on the latter, it clings very closely to the bark, keeping 

 its legs far apart, and moving with a series of sudden httle 

 starts, somewhat after the manner of a Tree-creeper. 



Krefft says that this lively little animal is the most abundant 

 of its tribe, " and, though nocturnal, is often seen during the 

 daytime. It used to be so common near the camp on the 

 Murray that I have often captured several specimens whenever 

 a load of wood was brought in. I kept many alive, and always 

 found that, like the other species of Phascologale^ it would 

 attack and kill any number of Mice, if put into the same box. 

 The shallow pouch of the female is provided with ten teats, 

 and as many young are sometimes attached to them." 



