166 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



European, as they are some of the most omnivorous of savages. The 

 Australian Opossum's meat, however, is quite passable, being much 

 like Rabbit. This is not surprising, as it is chiefly a vegetable feeder, 

 devouring shoots and fruit, though, as it likes an occasional small 

 bird in captivity, it is evidently not a pure vegetarian. In the 

 breeding season it utters loud cries ; the young are one or two only 

 in number, and remain a long time in the pouch of the mother. 



The fur of this animal is esteemed for the manufacture of rugs, 

 and it is presumably on account of its utility for this purpose that the 

 beast has been introduced into New Zealand, although it is destruc- 

 tive in orchards, as might be expected from its feeding-habits. I have 

 heard that the fur in New Zealand examples is finer, following the 

 usual rule, that furred creatures grow better fur in a cool than a 

 warm climate. In captivity the Vulpine Phalanger thrives well and 

 breeds freely ; it will live in an outdoor hutch, and so far abandons 

 its nocturnal habits as to take food by day. It is always well 

 represented in our Zoological Gardens. 



The Phalangers are the most numerous family of Marsupials, and 

 vary considerably in size and to some extent in form, though all are 

 short-legged climbing animals. Only a few of the more remarkable 

 can be noticed here. 



THE CUSCUSES 



THE Cuscuses (Phalanger) are noticeable for the fact that their pre- 

 hensile tails are naked for the end half; they have shorter ears and 

 muzzles than the Vulpine Phalanger, which they resemble in size and 

 generally in habits, though less vegetarian in their tastes. They are 

 the most westerly in range of all the Marsupials of the Old World, as 

 only one is found in Australia, and they extend from New Guinea to 

 Amboyna. There are about half-a-dozen species in all, and some of them 

 are extremely variable in colour, being pied and spotted, as is so com- 

 monly the case in domestic animals, and so rarely in wild ones. 



THE FLYING PHALANGERS 



THE Flying Phalangers are provided with an extension of skin along 

 the flanks, similar to what is found in the Cobego and the Flying 



