112 MAMMALIA. 



following toes are united by the skin as far as the last phalanx. It is 

 from this circumstance that these animals have received the name of Pha- 



langers *. 



Phalangista. 



Phalangista, Cuv. — Balantia, Illigf. 



The true Phalangers have not the skin of the flank extended; four back 

 molars in each jaw, with four points in two rows ; in front a large one, 

 conical and compressed, and between it and the superior canine are two 

 small and pointed ones, to which correspond the three very small lower 

 ones, of which we have just spoken. Their tail is always prehensile. 



The tail in some of them is in a great measure scaly. They live on 

 trees in the Moluccas, on which they seek insects and fruit. At the sight 

 of a man they suspend themselves by their tail ; and if he gaze at them 

 steadily for some time, he causes them to fall through lassitude. They 

 diffuse a very unpleasant odour, notwithstanding which their flesh is eaten. 

 There are several of them known, of various sizes and colours, all 

 of which are embraced under the Didelphis orientalis of Linnasus. 

 M. Temminck thinks he can separate them into species as follows : 

 Ph. ursina, T. (The Ursine Phalanger). Nearly the size of the 

 civet; fur close, and of a blackish-brown; the young ones a fawn- 

 coloured brown. From the woods of the island of Macassar. 



Ph. chrysorrhous, T. (The Golden- cruppered Phalanger). Size 

 of a large cat ; fur of an ash brown ; white beneath ; a golden fawn 

 colour on the croup. From the Moluccas. 



Ph. maculata, T. ; Buff. XIII. pi. ii ; Voy. de Freycin, pi. vii ; 

 Voy. du Duperr. pi. iv. (The Spotted Phalanger). Size of a cat; 

 whitish, irregularly spotted or marbled with brown. 



Ph. cavifrons, T. ; Buff. pi. x, the female ; and Voy. de Duperrey, 

 the male. (The Hollow-fronted Phalanger). The male white ; the 

 female fawn-coloured, with a brown stripe along the back. To these 

 we must add 



Ph. Quoy, Voy. de Freycin., pi. vi. (The Q,uoy Phalanger). A 



greyish-brown ; a blackish-brown longitudinal band on the croup ; 



top of the head a cinnamon-red; cheeks, throat, and breasts white;};. 



In others, which have hitherto been found in New Holland only, the 



tail is hairy to the tip. 



Ph. vulpina; Did. leniurina and vulp in a, SliSiW \ Bruno oiWcq^. 

 d'Az. ; White, Voy. 278. (The Fox-like Phalanger). Size of a 

 stout cat ; greyish-brown, paler beneath ; tail nearly all black. 



* The name of Phalanger was given by Buftbn to two individuals he had observed, 

 on account of the union of the two toes of the foot. That of Philander is not, as 

 might be thought, derived from the Greek, but from tlie Malay word Pelandor, which 

 means Rabbit, applied by the inhabitants of Amboyna to a species of Kanguroo. 

 Seba and Brisson have used it indiscriminately for all the pouched animals. The 

 Phalangers, in the Moluccas, are called Couscous or Coussous. The earlier travellers 

 not having properly distinguished them from the Sarigues, gave cause to believe that 

 this last genus was common to the two cmtinents. 



t Balantia, from Balantion, jiuvse or ])nuch. 



X A very distinct species. 



