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NATURAL HISTORJ. 



on the tender shoots of the blue gum in preference to those of any others, and it rests and feeds in the 

 boughs. At night it descends and prowls about, scratching up the ground in search of some peculiar 

 roots, and it seems to creep rather than to walk. When angry it utters a long, shrill yell, and assumes 

 a fierce and menacing look; They are found in pairs, and the young soon learn to perch on the mother's 

 shoulders. Mr. Gould says that, unlike most quadrupeds, the Koala does not flee upon the approach 

 of man, and that it is very tenacious of life. Even when severely wounded it will not quit its hold 

 of the branch upon which it may be. The animal has a nice thick fur, which nearly hides the ears, and 

 the pouch is large. A careful examination of the animal shows that it differs from the Kangaroos and 

 Wombats ; it is more like the latter than the former, but it is sufficiently distinct to be placed in 

 another family, the Phalangers, in which the incisors are six above and two below, and there 

 are two canines in the upper jaw, and in some, two in the lower jaw, but not in all. There are 

 two premolars above and below, and either six or eight molars in the upper and lower jaws. 



The head is rather small, and the face is short, the upper lip being cleft. The limbs are equal ; the 

 fore feet have five well-made toes with compressed and curved claws ; the hind feet have five toes, 

 of which the first or inner one is large, nailless, and at right angles to the rest, and opposable to 

 them. The second and third toes are shorter than the others, and are united in a common skin, and 

 they have nails. The fourth and fifth toes are curved and have compressed claws. The name 

 Phalangista is derived from this union by skin of the phalanges of the foot. The tail may be absent, 

 or long, and more or less prehensile, but sometimes not. 



There is a well-developed pouch, and the stomach is simple, and the caecum is usually very long 

 and large. One young one is produced at a birth. 



The Koala, or Native Bear,* may be taken as the type of the tailless group, and it belongs 

 to the genus FJiascolarctus. 



The Cuscus, or Ursine Phalanger,t belongs to a second division, for it has a prehensile tail. They 

 are common animals in the dense woods of the Island of Celebes. They squat on the branches half asleep 

 by day, but are lively enough at night, and it is said that they have a fancy for flesh as well as fruit. 

 A pretty spotted Cuscus inhabits the islands of Amboyna, Waigeoe, Banda, and New Guinea, as well 

 as Cape York. * They are dull in captivity, but when placed together they fight with fury, growling 



* Phascolarctus (pouched-bear) cinereus. t Phalangista ursina. J Phalangista (Cuscus) maculatus. 



