POUCHED MAMMALS. 203 



both have the long hairs of the elongated tail arranged in two opposite 

 lateral rows like the vanes of a feather. Whereas, however, in the shrew 

 these vanes occupy only the terminal portion of the tail, in the phalanger 

 they extend uninterruptedly throughout its length. In addition to this very 

 important feature and the absence of a parachute, the pen-tniled-phalanger is 

 characterised by its rather short and thinly-haired ears, which have several 

 tufts near the base, the normal length of the toes, and the sharp and curved 

 claws. The molars, of which there are invariably but three pairs, are small 

 and rounded, with smooth, unridged cusps, and the last pre-molar is very 

 small in the upper jaw, and wanting in the lower. Only a single pair of teats 

 is present in the female. The third genus in which a parachute is developed 

 is Acrobates, comprising the two species of pigmy-flying-phalangers, one of 

 which is Australian and the other Papuan. And since these beautiful little 

 animals, although considerably smaller, resemble the pen-tailed-phalanger, 

 not only in the structure of their skulls and teeth, but likewise in their 

 vaned tails, it is pretty evident that they are derived from the same ancestral 

 stock. The pigmy-phalangers have moderate-sized ears, a narrow para- 

 chute-like expansion of skin along the flanks, and the toes which are of 

 normal proportions terminating in a broad striated pad. In the fore-foot 

 the length of the digits follows the general order of 4, 3, 5, 2, 1, and the 

 claws, although not very prominent, are sharp and well developed. 

 Additional differences from Distcechurus are to be found in the larger size of 

 the upper pre-molar, and the presence of the corresponding tooth in the 

 lower jaw, and likewise in the existence of two pairs of teats in the pouch 

 of the female. The Australian species, which measures 3 in. to the root of 

 the tail, is a far less brilliantly-coloured animal than its Papuan ally. It is 

 commonly known as the flying-mouse, and was formerly abundant about 

 Port- Jackson, but nothing very definite has been ascertained in regard to its 

 mode of life. 



The last sub-family (Tarsipedinoe) of the tribe under consideration is repre- 

 sented only by the elegant little long-snouted -phalanger (Tarsipes rostratiis) of 

 Western Australia. The sub-family is characterised by the elongation of the 

 tail, the long and slender muzzle, the extensile tongue, the absence of a caecum, 

 or blind appendage to the intestine, and the minute size and rudimental 

 character of the cheek-teeth. As a genus, the animal, which measures about 

 3 in. to the root of the tail, may be characterised as follows : The size is 

 small and the form light and graceful ; while the long and narrow head is 

 furnished with ears of moderate size, which are but thinly covered with hair ; 

 and the soles of the feet are naked and granulated. With the exception of 

 those of the united second and third toes of the hind-foot, the claws are 

 rudimental ; and the tail, which exceeds the head and body in length by 

 about an inch, is thinly haired and prehensile. Four teats are present in the 

 pouch of the female. Although the upper canine and the lower incisor teeth 

 are fairly well developed, there are at most but three pairs of molars, and the 



E re-molars are reduced to a single pair in the upper jaw. A remarkable 

 mature is the absence of any inflection of the angle of the very slender 

 lower jaw. The long-snouted-phalanger appears to be an exceedingly rare 

 animal, inhabiting flowering shrubs, from the blossoms of which it extracts 

 honey by the insertion of its highly extensile tongue. 



The three species of wombat, all of which are confined to Tasmania 

 and Australia south of the tropics, and are included in the single genus 

 Phascolomysy are the sole representatives of the third and last family of 



