THE KOALA 441 



shock it would otherwise sustain/ It sweeps from tree to 

 tree with a bewildering rapidity, but, nevertheless, its move- 

 ments cannot be described as true flight, any more than 

 those of the colugo, polatouche, or anomalure described 

 in earlier chapters. 



In the Great Flying Phalanger (Petauroides volans), an 

 animal with a body twenty inches in length, the flying 

 membrane is considerably reduced. The Pigmy Flying 

 Phalanger (Acrobates pygmcea) is only three inches in 

 length, with a tail longer than the body. Its fur is long 

 and silky. Notwithstanding the smallness of the creature 

 it has a perfectly developed pouch. The tail greatly re- 

 sembles a feather in its perfect arrangement of the hair in 

 two opposite fringes. 



KOALA (Phascolarctus dnereus}. 

 Plate XLVI. Fig. i. 



The Koala is a type differing so widely from the fore- 

 going Phalangers as to form in itself a separate sub-family. 

 It is a podgy, tailless, woolly clothed animal with a short, 

 thick-set head and round, tufted ears. It is often absurdly 

 called the Australian Bear, with which animal it has little in 

 common beyond a resemblance to the woolly toy mon- 

 strosity that is so popular in nurseries. Owing to the 

 facility with which it can climb trees it is frequently called 

 the ' Native Monkey,' in comparison with which it is in 

 reality the veriest sluggard ; and it altogether lacks the 

 volatile temperament of the four-handed beast. 



The Koala is one of the most sedentary animals imagin- 

 able. It will live in the same tree for days, or even weeks, 

 if the supply of leaves and flowers upon which it feeds does 

 not give out. The female has only one young one at a 

 time, which is carried about on its mother's back until it 

 is half her own size. Being perfectly harmless and posi- 

 tively droll in appearance, the Koala frequently becomes 

 a household pet. Sometimes, however, it gives way to 

 sudden gusts of rage, and yells shrilly in rather an alarming 

 manner. 



