PHALANGERS. 



55 



The shrew-like Tarsipes, a little long-nosed animal with an 

 extensile tongue, and with three distinct stripes down its back ; 

 it feeds on insects and honey^ and is confined to Western 

 Australia. 



Fig. 21. 



Common Wombat (Phascolomys mitchelli). 



The true Phalangers (Phalangista or Trichosurus), cat-like 

 animals, with thick fur and long bushy tails; the finely-marked 

 Striped Phalanger (Dactylopsila trivirgatd] of New Guinea ; the 

 Dormouse Phalangers (Dromicia) ; the Bare-tailed Phalangers 

 (Cuscus or Phalanger) ; and, finally, the Flying Phalangers (Petau- 

 rus), which, like the flying squirrels, have a lateral extension of the 

 skin of the body, forming a parachute : are all closely related to 

 each other, and form the great mass of the present family. 



The Koala (Phascolarctus cinereus) is a curious species, some- 

 what similar, in its general appearance, to a little bear, but is 

 entirely a vegetable feeder, living chiefly on the leaves of the 

 Eucalyptus. It is of a harmless and peaceable disposition, of about 

 the same size as the Wombats, with long ashy-grey hair, tufted 

 ears, no tail, and five toes on each of its feet. 



3. The Wombats (Phascolomyida) (fig. 21) are large clumsily- 

 built animals, somewhat resembling marmots in their general form ; 

 they have short, rounded heads, short ears, scarcely any tail, and 

 long powerful claws with which they dig their burrows. There 



