106 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY, 
in the order 4, 5, 3, 2, 1. Tail decidedly more bushy at the 
base than in the species mentioned. Length of head and body 
about 7 inches ; of tail 8 inches. 
Distribution.—Northern and Eastern Australia. Introduced 
into Tasmania in 1835. 
Variety—In New Guinea and the adjacent islands, from the 
Halmahéra group eastwards to New Britain, the typical form of 
this species, which, except for the smaller size of its cheek-teeth, 
is frequently very difficult to separate from P. sciureus, is replaced 
by a very well-marked variety. In this Papuan Flying Phalan- 
ger (var. P. papwanus) the fur is shorter and closer than in the 
typical form ; while, owing to this shortness, the stripe on the 
back and the other markings are more distinctly defined. The 
relatively small ears are also generally narrower and less 
rounded than in the Australian form; while there is some 
difference in the hairing of the under surface of the hind feet. 
The teeth are likewise relatively smaller and lighter. 
If these differences were invariable, they might perhaps be 
taken to indicate that the Papuan form is a distinct species, but 
the specimens from the Aru Islands tend to bridge over the 
difference between the Australian and New Guinea forms. 
III. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYING PHALANGER. PETAURUS 
AUSTRALIS. 
Petaurus australis, Shaw, Nat. Miscell., vol. ii., pl. Ix. (1791) ; 
Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 151 (1888). 
Didelphys petaurus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. i., pt. 2, p. 496 | 
(1800). 
Phalangista petaurus, Cuvier, Régne Animal, vol. i., p. 180 
(1817). 
Petaurus flaviventer, Desmarest, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., 
vol, xxv., Pp, 403 (1817), 
