MARSUPIALIA. 77 



Some of the species have inferior canini, but they are very small. Their 

 superior canini and their three first molars, above and below, are very pointed ; 

 each of their back molars has four points. 



Ph. pygmisa. (The Flying Dwarf Phalanger.) Of the colour and nearly 

 the size of a mouse ; the hairs of the tail regularly arranged on its two sides, 

 like the web of a quill. 



Other species have no inferior canini, while the superior ones are very small. 

 Their four black molars present four points, but they are slightly curved into 

 a crescent, which is very nearly the form of those of the Ruminantia. In 

 front there are two above, and one below, less complicated. By this structure 

 they are rendered still more frugivorous than all the preceding species. 



Ph. petaurus. (The Great Flying Phalanger.) Resembles the Taguan and 

 the Galeopithecus in size ; its fur is soft and close ; its tail long and flattened ; 

 brownish-black above, white beneath. They are of various shades of brown ; 

 some are variegated, and others perfectly white. 



Our third subdivision has the incisors and superior canini of the second. 

 The two toes of the hind feet are also similarly united ; but the posterior 

 thumbs and inferior canini are wanting. It contains but a single genus. 



HYPSIPRYMNUS, Illiger*. 



The Potoroos are the last animals of this family which retain any trait of 

 the general characters of the Carnaria. Their teeth are nearly the same as 

 those of the phalangers, and they still have pointed canini above. What par- 

 ticularly distinguishes these animals is their hind legs, which are much larger 

 in proportion than the fore ones that have no thumbs, and the two first 

 toes united as far as the nail ; so that, at a first glance, it seems as though 

 there were but three toes, the middle one having two nails. They frequently 

 walk upon two feet, at which times they employ their long and strong tail to 

 support themselves. They have then the form and habits of the kanguroos, 

 from which they only differ in their superior canine tooth. They are fru- 

 givorous. 



Hyps, minor. (The Kanguroo Rat) Size of a small rabbit ; of a mouse- 

 grey. From New Holland, where it is called Potoroo. It is the only species 

 known. 



The fourth subdivision only differs from the third in the absence of all 

 canini whatsoever ; it is the 



MACKOPUS, Sharv HALMATURUS, Illiger\. 



The Kanguroos have all the characters we have assigned to the preceding ge- 

 nus, except that the superior canine is wanting, and that their middle incisors do 

 not project beyond the others. The inequality of their legs is still greater, so 

 that on all- fours they can only walk slowly and with difficulty ; they make 



f-4/nrpv/j.tos ; i. e. raised behind. -f Halmaturus, tail fit for leaping. 



