138 THE AKIEL AND THE VULPINE PHALANGIST. 



the animal when it wishes to pass from one branch or from one tree to 

 another without the trouble of descending and the laborious climbing 

 up again. Trusting to the powers of its parachute, the little creature 

 will boldly launch itself into the air, stretching out all its limbs, and 

 expanding the skin to the utmost. Upborne by this membrane, the 

 Opossum Mouse can sweep through very great intervals of space, and 

 possesses no small power of altering its course at will. It cannot, 

 however, support itself in the air by moving its limbs, like the bats, 

 nor can it make any aerial progress when the original impetus of its 

 leap has expired. 



The beautiful little animal which has been called by the expressive 

 name of Ariel is about the size of a small rat, and in the hue of the 

 upper portions of the body is not unlike that animal. 



The color of the fur upon the upper portions of the body is a light 

 brown, which darkens considerably upon the parachute membrane. 

 On the under surface it is white, the white fur just turning over the 

 edge of the parachute, and presenting a pretty contrast with the dark 

 brown color of its upper surface. The tail is nearly of the same color 

 as the body, with the exception of the tip, which is dark. On account 

 of its graceful movements, and the easy undulating sweep of its passage 

 through the air, it has earned for itself the appropriate name of Ariel, 

 in remembrance of the exquisite and tricksy sprite that animates the 

 world-celebrated drama of the Tempest 



It is not an uncommon animal, and is frequently seen at Port 

 Essington. 



Fox-like in nature as well as in form, the Vulpine Phalangist 

 has well earned the name which has been given to it by common 

 consent. It has also been entitled the Vulpine Opossum, and in its 

 native country is popularly called by the latter of these names. 



It is an extremely common animal, and is the widest diffused of all 

 the Australian opossum-like animals. Like the preceding animals, it 

 is a nocturnal being, residing during the day in the hollows of decaying 

 trees, and only venturing from its retreat as evening draws on. The 

 nature of its food is of a mixed character, for the creature is capable 

 of feeding on vegetable food, like the Petaurists, and also displays a 

 considerable taste for animal food of all kinds. If a small bird be 

 given to a Vulpine Phalangist, the creature seizes it in its paws, man- 

 ipulates it adroitly for a while, and then tears it to pieces and eats it. 

 It is rather a remarkable fact that the animal is peculiarly fond of the 

 bram, and always commences its feast by crushing the head between its 

 teeth and devouring the brain. 



In all probability, therefore, the creature makes no small portion 

 of Its meals on various animal substances, such as insects, reptiles, and 

 eggs. As to the birds on which it so loves to feed, it may very prob- 



