Marsupials and Monotremes 



359 



THE TYPICAL PHALANGERS. 



The typical PHALANGERS, or OPOSSUMS, 

 as they are familiarly known throughout 

 Australia, include a very considerable number 

 of representatives, ranging in size from that 

 of a small mouse to that of a full-grown 

 cat. All are essentially arboreal in their 

 habits, feeding principally on the leaves and 

 flowers of the various gums. They are for 

 the most part strictly nocturnal in their 

 habits, and make their homes and retiring- 

 places during the day in the hollow trunks 

 and limbs that are of such abundant occur- 

 rence in the periodically fire-swept Australian 

 forests. Almost all the larger species are 

 notable for the length, thickness, and ex- 

 quisitely fine texture of their fur, a circum- 

 stance for which they are consequently laid 

 under heavy penalties for the sake of their 

 pelts. The island colony of Tasmania, in the 

 extreme south, with its colder climate, as 

 might be anticipated, produces the finest 

 qualities of these furs, that of the BLACK or 

 SOOTY OPOSSUM, which is peculiar to the island, 

 being most highly prized. The length and 

 furry character of their in many instances 

 prehensile tails also form a conspicuous feature 

 of this group. Nature, in fact, apparently 

 distributed caudal material so over-liberally 

 among these marsupials that the little koala 

 had to make shift without. 



The group of the Phalanger Family 



popularly known as FLYING-SQUIRRELS, or more correctly as FLYING-PHALANGERS, is almost 

 universally admitted to include some of the most beautiful of living mammals. In external 

 structure, so far as their peculiar so-called " flying " mechanism is concerned, these animals 

 coincide in a remarkable manner with the true flying-squirrels, belonging to the Eodent Order, 

 indigenous to the Asiatic and American Continents. In neither instance is there flight, in 

 the true sense of the term, similar to that of birds and bats, but the fore and hind limbs are 

 connected by a parachute-like membrane, which, outstretched when the animal leaps from tree 

 to tree, buoys it up and enables its owner to traverse, in a straight and gradually descending 

 line only, very considerable distances. 



The smaller squirrel-like form common to the south-eastern districts of Australia, and 

 on account of its predilection for sweets commonly known as the SUGAR-SQUIRREL, makes a 

 most charming little pet. For the most part addicted to sleep, and impatient at being disturbed 

 during the day, towards sundown it wakes up, and is full of frolic. One such example was 

 the writer's travelling companion for a considerable interval in Western Australia. While 

 remaining packed conveniently away in a small box throughout the day, it was accustomed 

 to enjoy the liberty of whatever apartment its owner occupied in the evening and throughout 

 the night, returning of its own accord to its sleeping-box with the approach of dawn. On 

 one exceptional occasion, however, Master Tiny, as this individual was named, was missing in 

 the morning from his accustomed crib, and a prolonged search and examination of every 



Photo ly W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea. 



LARGER FLYING-PHALANGER, 



A nearly pure white example. 



