112 THE FAUNA OF 
apparently recently taken to the trees, for they are 
stated to be slow and clumsy climbers. In other 
kangaroos the forelimbs are very short, in these forms 
they are nearly as long as the hind ones, and the tail, 
though not prehensile, is said to be used in climbing. 
Much more definitely arboreal are the phalangers, 
closely related animals, but as well fitted for life in the 
trees as most kangaroos are for life on the ground. In 
the forests of Western Australia occurs the little Tar- 
sipes, a shrew-like animal with a prehensile tail, which 
sucks honey from flowers with its worm-like tongue, 
and presumably, like humming birds, obtains insects 
also in this way. In North Australia and in the islands 
of the Indo-Malayan region is found the spotted cuscus 
(Phalanger maculatus). As in the other members of 
the phalanger family the great toe can be opposed to 
the others, and the long tail is very markedly pre- 
hensile. Cuscuses feed upon leaves and fruit, but like 
so many of the forest animals will also take birds and 
other small creatures. There are several species, mostly 
about the size of a cat. The feet are naked beneath. 
Just as we have flying squirrels among the rodents 
and flying shrews among insectivores, so among the 
phalangers (Fig. 33) we have also flying types. The 
great flying phalanger (Petauroides volans) of Queens- 
land and Victoria has both a flying membrane and 
a prehensile tail ; the squirrel flying phalanger or sugar- 
squirrel (Petaurus sciureus) has a bushy squirrel-like 
tail, not prehensile, and a well-developed parachute. 
It occurs in Eastern Australia. The pygmy flying 
phalanger (Acrobates pygmaea), in which the total length 
of head and body does not exceed about 24 inches, 
has a long tail with the hairs arranged at the sides to 
imitate the vane of a featuer, and a slightly developed 
