466 THE VULPINE PHALANGIST. 
is warmly tinged with a chestnut hue. The tail of this animal is extremely full, the hair 
being thick, long, and very bushy, more so than that of the body and hmbs. One of the 
most remarkable points in the colouring of this animal is the fact that the abdomen and 
the under portions of its body retain the brown hue of the upper portions instead of 
being covered with the beautiful white or yellowish fur which is found in nearly all the 
preceding animals. The ears of the Tapoa are rather elongated, and triangular in form, 
thickly covered with hair on the outside, but naked on their inner faces. 
In the structure of this creature a rather peculiar formation is well defined, and as 
it is one of the distinctive marks by which the genus Phalangista is separated from its 
neighbours, it is well worthy of notice. The tail is, to all superar entirely covered 
with a heav y coating of thick, long, and loose hair, but if that member be lifted up, so as 
to expose the under surface, and carefully examined, it will be seen that at the extremity 
the tail is bare of fur, and that a naked stripe runs for some little distance from the tip 
towards the base. During the lifetime of the animal, this naked stripe, together with the 
nose and the soles of the feet, are of a light flesh colour. 
Fox-LIKE in nature as well as in form, the VULPINE PHALANGIST has well earned the 
name which has been given to it by common consent. It has also been entitled the 
Vulpine Opossum, and in its native country is popularly called by the latter of these names. 
It is an extremely common animal, and is the widest diffused of all the Australian 
opossum-like animals. Like the preceding animals, it is a nocturnal being, residing 
during the day in the hollows of decaying trees, and only venturing from its retreat as 
evening draws on. The nature of its food is of a mixed character, for the creature is 
capable of feeding on vegetable food, like the Petaurists, and also disp] ays a considerable 
taste for animal food of all kinds. If a small bird be given to a Vulpine Phalangist, the 
creature seizes it in his paws, manipulates it advoitly for a while, and then tears it to 
pieces and eatsit. It is rather a remarkable fact, that the animal is peculiarly fond of 
the brain, and always commences its feast by crushing the head between its teeth and 
devouring the brain. 
In all probability, therefore, the creature makes no small portion of its meals on 
various animal substances, such as insects, reptiles, and eggs. As to the birds on which 
it so loves to feed, it may very probably, although so slow an animal, capture them in the 
same manner as has been related of the lemurs, viz. by creeping slowly and cautiously 
upon them as they sleep, and swiftly seizing them before they can awaken to a sense of 
their danger. It is a tolerably large animal, equalling a laree cat in dimensions, and is, 
therefore, able to make dire havoc among such prey whenever it chooses to issue forth 
with the intention of making a meal upon some small bird that may chance to be 
sleeping in fancied security. 
the fore: “paws of the velba ELEN Nis are well ee for puch procera as 
any “al ater in its Daw and to hold it after ite manner of the ¢ common squirrel 
When feeding, it generally takes its food in its fore-paws, and so conveys it to its mouth. 
Tn captivity it does not seem to be a very intelligent anunal, even when night brings forth 
its time of energy, and it but little responds to the advances of its ow ner, however kind he 
may be. It will feed on bread and milk, or fruits, or leaves, or buds, or any substance of 
a similar nature, but always seems best pleased when it is supplied with some small birds 
or animals, and devours them with evident glee. 
The flesh of the Vulpine Phalangist is considered to be very good, and the natives are so 
fond of it that, notwithstanding the laziness that is engrained i in their very beings, except 
when they are under the influence of some potent excitement, they can seldom refrain 
from chasing an “opossum,” even though they have been well fed by the white settlers. 
When the fresh body of a Vulpine Phalangist is opened, a kind of camphorated odour is 
diffused from it, which is probably occasioned by the foliage of the camphor-perfumed 
trees in which it dwells, and the leaves of which it eats. 
The fur of this animal is not valued so highly as that or the Tapoa, probably because 
it is of more common occurrence, for the colour of the hair is much more elegant, and its 
