258 PHALANGISTID^E 



false molars, f :f ; true molars, f ;f =36. The in- 

 cisors resemble those of Belideus ; the canines are 

 well developed, long, pointed, and recurved, placed 

 close to the intermaxillary suture, and even encroach- 

 ing slightly on the intermaxillary hone. The three 

 false molars of the upper jaw have each two fangs, 

 they are compressed, sharply pointed, and, viewed 

 laterally, present a triangular form.* The first and 

 second are ahout equal in size, and larger than the 

 third, the apex of which projects beyond the level of 

 the crowns of the true molars. Between the first and 

 second false molars on each side there is a narrow 

 space; the third molar is placed close to the true 

 molars ; these, as well as those of the under jaw, re- 

 semble the true molars of Belideus ; there is, how- 

 ever, one less on each side of both jaws. The in- 

 cisors of the lower jaw also resemble those in Belideus. 

 Behind these incisors there are two minute teeth on 



* The small false molars observable in the lower jaw of the 

 Phalangista, are variable in number in the different species of 

 that genus, and even in the same animals they sometimes differ 

 on opposite sides of the jaw, hence we cannot regard these teeth 

 as important. In Belideus and Acrobata^ however, the case is 

 different they are always present in all the species, and some 

 of them possess double fangs : connected with these teeth we 

 find, moreover, a very evident modification of the true molars ; 

 additional interest is added to these modifications when we 

 find in them a beautiful transition from the vegetable feeding 

 to the insectivorous type indeed, the prickly teeth of Aero 

 bata pygmaa would certainly appear to be better adapted to 

 an insectivorous diet than to the mastication of vegetable sub- 

 stances. 



