Marsupials and Monotremes 



355 



THE PHALANGERS. 



The Phalanger Family of 

 Marsupials, which next invites 

 attention, is constituted of 

 animals especially adapted to 

 lead an arboreal life, though 

 among themselves they ex- 

 hibit very considerable struc- 

 tural variations. The species 

 usually placed at the head of 

 this group is the essentially 

 droll and in many respects 

 abnormal form known as the 

 KOALA, or AUSTRALIAN NATIVE 

 BEAR. Its little podgy tailless 

 body, short thick-set head, 

 and round tufted ears lend 

 some countenance perhaps to 

 the ursine analogy ; but there 

 the likeness ends. 



The koala is limited in 

 its distribution to the south- 

 eastern region of the Australian 

 Continent, and is there found 

 inhabiting the loftiest gum- 

 trees, on the leaves and flowers 

 of which it almost exclusively 

 feeds. Compared with the 

 opossum and squirrel-like 

 phalangers, the koala is a 

 very slow and sedentary little 

 animal, remaining stationary 

 in and browsing upon the 

 leaves of the same gum-tree 

 for days or even weeks at a stretch. Taking advantage of this home-staying propensity, 

 examples are established, with full liberty to wander at will among the large gum-trees, in 

 the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, and have never abused the confidence reposed in them by 

 surreptitiously absconding. The young koalas in particular make the most droll and delightful 

 of household pets, speedily becoming attached to and following their owners about the premises, 

 or contentedly settling down to the possession of an allotted corner of the verandah, in which 

 an improvised perch has been erected and a constant supply of its favourite gum-leaves is daily 

 assured. One such example, kept in Brisbane, Queensland, furnished the writer with the material 

 for the photograph on this page ; also of another one that illustrated in an interesting manner 

 the very singular attitude assumed by the animal when asleep. Instead of creeping into the 

 hollow trunk or spout of a gum or other tree, as the opossums and other phalangers are wont 

 to do, the little " bear " simply sticks tight to his supporting branch, and, -tucking in his 

 head and ears and limbs, converts himself into an apparently homogeneous rounded mass of 

 fur or moss, and, thus disguised, peacefully sleeps. Seen at some little distance, in fact, 

 none but a trained eye could distinguish this sleeping bear from one of the round woody 

 excrescences or bunches of misletoe-like parasitic growths that are of common occurrence on 

 the trees in every gum forest. In this way the little creature secures immunity from the 



[Milford-on-Sea. 

 KOALA, OR AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BEAR AND CUB. 



An excellent illustration of the way in which the female koalas carry their young securely 

 perched on their backs. 



