SQUIRREL OPOSSUM. 4.99 



whole under side of the animal is milk-white: the 

 upper parts of the feet are also white, and the 

 edge of the lateral or flying membrane, which 

 extends from the fore feet to the hind, is edged 

 with a blackish border, as in the flying squirrels. 

 The abdominal pouch is of considerable size, and 

 is situated as in other Opossums, on the lower 

 part of the abdomen : the hind feet are furnished 

 with a rounded, unarmed, or mutic thumb. No- 

 thing can exceed the softness and delicacy of this 

 animal's fur, which is, if possible, still finer than 

 that of the Petaurus, to which indeed, though 

 very greatly inferior in size, as well as widely dif- 

 ferent in colour, it yet bears a striking affinity. 

 It is a nocturnal animal, and continues torpid 

 the greatest part of the day, but during the 

 night is full of activity. In this, as well as 

 in other Australian Opossums, the two toes on 

 the hind feet nearest the thumb or rounded one, 

 are connate, or both conjoined under one com- 

 mon skin. 



Some of this species were brought over a few 

 years since, and lived a considerable time: the 

 beautiful representation given in the third number 

 of the work intituled Zoology of New Holland, was 

 drawn from one in the possession of T. Wilson, Esq. 

 to whom it was presented by Mr. White, chief sur 

 geon to the English settlement in New Holland. 



Mr. Pennant, in the last edition of his History 

 of Quadrupeds, appears, through some oversight, 

 to have described it as a Squirrel, under the name 

 of the Norfolk-Isle Squirrel. In all probability 



