278 PHALANGISTID^B. 



middle and white at the apex, the space occupied 

 by white hairs is about 4 inches in length, but this 

 is variable ; the feet are blackish. 



Length from nose to root of tail, 15 inches; tail, 

 13 inches; nose to base of ear,, 2 inches 5 lines; ear, 

 11 lines. 



No doubt this is the Phalangista figured in Cooke's 

 last voyage, PL 8, yet it certainly is not the species 

 generally called P. Cookii by authors, though authors 

 have generally believed that that name was applied 

 to a species agreeing with Cook's figure. The fact 

 is, this and the following species had been confounded 

 until Mr. Ogilby pointed out the differences in the 

 Proceedings referred to at the head of this description; 

 he at the same time noticed the difference of habitat 

 of the two species. The present animal inhabits Van 

 Diemen a Land, whilst the previously described species 

 appears to be confined to the Continent of Australia. 

 Subsequently, Mr. Gray, in the Annals of Natural 

 History, proposed that this species, being the one 

 figured by Cook, should be called Cookii, and that 

 confounded with it, Ban&sii. The two names pro- 

 posed by Mr. Gray, would certainly be well applied, 

 since it appears that the latter species was discovered 

 by Sir J. Banks, in Captain Cook's first voyage ; * it 

 would, however, now create much confusion were Mr. 

 Gray's proposal to be adopted. 



In my notes I have a description, precisely agree- 

 ing with the present animal, taken from a specimen 



* See Annals of Natural History for June 1838, p. 294 



