22 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



most natural. As pointed out, however, by Flower and Lydekker, " Mammals Living 

 and Extinct," p. 166, the resemblance between the limbs and habits of the Tree 

 Kangaroos and the Phalangers must have been independently acquired. The family 

 of the Phalangeridce embraces many very dissimilar structural forms, including some 

 of the most beautiful representatives of their order. Almost all the species are 

 remarkable for the extreme softness and richness of their fur, the black Opossum, 

 Phalangista, fuliginosa, from the colder climate of Tasmania, outrivalling the others 

 in this respect. For symmetry of form and grace and agility of movement, 

 however, the palm must undoubtedly, be given to their near allies the " Flying 

 Opossums," or so-called " Flying Squirrels," pertaining to the genera Petaurus, 

 Petauroides and Acrobates. Here we have a structural modification in all 

 ways identical with what occurs in the true Indian Flying Squirrels, Pteromys and 

 Sciopterus, of the order Rodentia, which consists of a parachute-like membrane 

 that extends between the fore and hind limbs. With this accessory locomotive 

 apparatus the flying Phalangers have little or no occasion to descend, as do the 

 ordinary opossums, to the ground between the component trees of the vast Eucalyptus 

 forests in which they take up their abode, intervening chasms of one hundred feet or 

 more being readily surmounted with the aid of the extended parachute. The largest 

 species of Flying Opossum, Petauroides volans, has a body equalling in dimensions that 

 of a large cat, and with its thick fur and long bushy tail it bears a by no 

 means inconsiderable resemblance to the French or Persian variety of our domestic 

 Grimalkin. The portraits of a remarkably beautiful albino example of this species 

 that was in the author's possession in Queensland, are given on page 25. It was 

 obtained near Brisbane. Although the fur throughout was a rich creamy white, 

 the eyes were not pink but retained the rich brown lustre of the normal 

 individuals. Being almost exclusively nocturnal or crepuscular in its habits, the many 

 attempts to secure a successful photograph from life of this Opossum by daylight 

 proved abortive and the one here reproduced, with pendant tail, in the act of 

 feeding, was taken by the author at night, with the aid of a magnesium flash-lamp. 

 The abnormally long furry tail of this Flying Phalanger is not prehensile, as 

 with the majority of the ordinary opossums, and when the animal is leisurely 

 browsing, as in the portrait referred to, usually hangs laxly at full length. At other 

 times, when walking along or resting on a branch, this animal manifested the singular 

 habit of coiling its tail in a tight revolute coil like that of a watch spring or a 

 butterfly's proboscis, as shown in the drawing from life, reproduced in the lower 



