The Phalanger. 



87 



The Opossum may be easily tamed, but is an unplea- 

 sant inmate, from its awkward figure and stupidity, and 

 its very disagreeable smell. The American Indians spin 

 its hair and dye it red, and then weave it into girdles 

 and other articles of clothing. The flesh of these 

 animals is white and well tasted, and is preferred by the 

 Indians to pork : that of the young ones eats very much 

 like the sucking-pig. 



THE PHALANGEK. (PMangista vulpina.) 



THIS animal, which is very common in Australia, has 

 some resemblance in its aspect and colour to a fox; but 

 is much smaller. It has a long, furred tail, very dif- 

 ferent from that of the opossum. The Phalanger lives 

 amongst the branches of the trees, on which it climbs 

 about at night with great agility; its food consists 

 partly of fruits and partly of small birds, which it easily 

 captures during its nocturnal excursions. It is called 

 the Opossum by the colonists of Australia. There are 



