280 PHALANGISTID^. 



size, erect, totally destitute of hair, and of an uniform 

 mouse colour ; the fur is very soft and thick, and its 

 general hue is rufous-grey ; the under parts are more 

 sparingly covered with fur of a pale yellowish-grey 

 colour, the yellow predominating at the sides, and 

 especially on the throat ; the general colour of the 

 face is also yellowish ; the sides of the neck as well 

 as the throat are buff; there is a blackish ring around 

 the eye, and a darkish ring partially surrounds the 

 ears at the anterior part, interrupted by a distinct 

 white spot behind each ; the feet are almost entirely 

 concealed by the fur when the animal is at rest, and 

 even when in an active state, the breadth of the body, 

 combined with the length of the fur, and the extent 

 to which the skin of the sides is attached to the legs, 

 namely as far as the carpi and tarsi, gives it very 

 much the appearance of a Petaurus, to which this 

 species evinces a remarkable approximation ; the tail 

 is nearly as long as the head and body together, and 

 is remarkably broad and thick at the base, to more 

 than half an inch from the origin, at which part it 

 becomes contracted, and then gradually tapers to the 

 extremity; it is hairy, being more thickly covered on 

 the upper part, and especially at the base, where it 

 partakes of the general colour of the upper parts of 

 the body, becoming more scantily furnished towards 

 the point, and there is on the under part, at the 

 extremity, a space about half an inch in length, which 

 is entirely naked ; the tail is more or less prehensile 

 throughout its whole length, but especially towards 

 the extremity. 



