Zoological Society. Ift9 



at a shot, for they hung m clusters, hut unless killed outright they 

 remained suspended for some time : when wounded they are handled 

 with difficulty, as they bite severely, and on such occasions their cry 

 reminds one of the squalling of a child.' " 



Phalangista (Pseudocheirus) nudicaudata, Gould. 

 Sp. Ch. — Head, all the upper surface, the sides of the body, and the 

 outer sides of the limbs, lirownish grey ; the tips of the hairs with a 

 silky appearance ; under surface of the neck and body and the inner 

 sides of the limbs pale buff; the colouring of the upper and under sur- 

 face distinctly defined on the sides of the body, but gradually blending 

 on the limbs, the rump and root of the tail, which is thickly clothed 

 on its basal third and naked for the remainder of its length ; hands, 

 feet, and naked portion of the tail pinky flesh-colour. 



inches. 



Length from tip of nose to root of tail 12 



of tail 8 



of fore-feet, including the nails 3 



of hind-feet, including the nails 3^ 



Hab. Cape York, the most northern point of AustraUa. 

 This species differs from all the other Australian members of the 

 genus, in having the apical three-fourths of its tail entirely destitute 

 of hair ; in the light-coloured mark on the rump, somewhat re- 

 sembling that on the same part of the Koala ; and in its short dense 

 fur and short ears. 



The above description and admeasurements are taken from a fe- 

 male said to be about two-thirds grown. The ears are exceedingly 

 short and rounded, and the fur is remarkable for its extreme density 

 and for its resemblance to that of the Koala. 



Ptiloris Victoria, Gould. 



Sp. Ch. — JMale: general plumage rich deep velvety black, glossed 

 on the upper surface, sides of the neck, chin and breast with plum- 

 colour ; feathers of the head and throat small, scale-like, and of a shining, 

 metallic bronzy green ; feathers of the abdomen very much developed, 

 of the same hue as the upper surface, but each feather so broadly 

 margined with rich deep olive-green, that the colouring of the basal 

 portion of the feather is hidden, and the olive-green forms a broad 

 abdominal band, which is sharply defined above, but irregular below ; 

 two centre tail-feathers rich shining metallic green, the remainder 

 deep black ; bill and feet black. 



Female : all the upper surface greyish brown, tinged with olive ; 

 head and sides of the neck dark brown, striated with greyish brown ; 

 over each eye a superciliary stripe of buff ; wing-feathers edged with 

 ferruginous ; chin and throat pale buif ; remainder of the under sur- 

 face, under wing-coverts, and the base of the inner webs of the quills 

 rich deep reddish buif, each feather with an irregular spot of brown 

 near the tip, dilated on the flanks into the form of irregular bars ; 

 bill and feet black. 



Total length, 10^ inches; bill. If; wing, 5; tail, 3;^; tarsi, 1^. 



Hab. Barnard's Isles. 



10* 



