MACKOPID.E. MAMMALIA. PJ 



[ALAN'GISTI I >.T'. 



211 



longer than the body. The strongly-curved and power- 

 ful claws are also rendered subservient to their arboreal 



climbing habits. Two species have been described by 

 M. Salomon Miiller, which he respectively denominates 



The Tree-Kangaroo ^.Dendrologus inustus). 



Dcndrolofjus ursinus and D. inustus Fig. 86. Both 

 have moderately well developed ears, whilst the two 

 superior central incisor teeth are scarcely longer than 

 the outer pair. 



THE POTOEOO (Hypsiprimnus minor), or KANGAROO 

 EAT Plate 29, fig. 91 is a gentle, timid, little animal, 

 about the size of our common rabbit. It is a native of 

 New South Wales, and tolerably abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the river Weragambia. The fur exhibits 

 a greyish-brown colour generally, being reddish above 

 and white underneath the belly. The ears are of large 

 size ; the tail being also conspicuously developed ; 

 more uniform in thickness than obtains in kangaroos 

 proper, very flexible, and slightly tufted at the extre- 

 mity. The fore-limbs still display much disparity when 

 compared with the stout posterior pair ; the same rela- 

 tion holds good in regard to the feet, the three central 

 claws of the pentadactylous fore-feet being strikingly 

 developed. The muzzle is so considerably attenuated 

 and produced, that in the skull the nasals are seen to 

 extend beyond the level of the upper jaw. This animal 

 is further distinguished by the remarkable length of its 

 anterior grinding teeth, or premolars, which are also 



sculptured by vertical groves externally ; these dental 

 characteristics are also present in congeneric forms, 

 several of which have been described as distinct spe- 

 cies by Ogilby, Gould, and others. 



FAMILY III. PHALANGISTID^. 



The marsupials associated under this head are com- 

 monly called Phalangers, and although only some of 

 them exhibit highly exalted leaping powers in virtue 

 of assistance derived from a membranous expansion of 

 the skin at the sides of the body yet, on the whole, 

 they form a tolerably distinct group. Among the more 

 distinguishing peculiarities are those which have refer- 

 ence to their partially carnivorous diet and arboreal 

 habits. The disparity between the hind and fore legs 

 no longer exists, whilst the posterior feet have become 

 pentadactylous, the thumb remaining unarmed, and 

 the second and third toes conjoined as far forward as 

 the base of the claws. The teeth vary considerably in 

 different genera ; thus, in the true Phalangers there are 

 only eight incisors, disposed as in the kangaroos, and 

 sixteen constant true molars although occasionally we 



