370 IMARSUPIALIA. 



in colour, and also much smaller. Many of the tips of 

 these tails are also white. Black and brown varieties are 

 by no means uncommon, often described by naturalists 

 under other names, such as Plialanfiista Lcmiiroides. 



ROCK OPOSSUM, OR SHORT-EARED 

 PHALANGER. 



Phalanrjista cannia. 



This Opossum is the rarest of the family, and inhabits 

 the rocky parts of New South Wales. 



It exceeds slightly in size the Sydney Opossum, but 

 is inferior to the Tasmanian. 



The colour is of a red hue, especially towards the 

 head ; the back is covered with darker hair, rather greyer. 

 The value of a skin is about Is. 



There are occasionally dark brown varieties. 



RING-TAILED OPOSSUM. 



Plialancjista cooki. 



This Opossum is also called Cook's Phalanger, and 

 was probably first noticed by this celebrated navigator. 

 It is a small animal, of about six inches long, with a 

 long tail which measures as much as 13 inches, and is 

 slightly thicker at base ; it is white for about two-thirds 

 from the tip. In one example we have seen a ring of black 

 in this white portion ; from such a rare specimen the 

 name of Ring-tail has probably been derived. The Ring- 

 tailed Opossum of Adelaide is the most numerous of 



