THE SOOTY PHALANGIST. 



465 



attacked each other fiercely, and growled, and scratched, and bit, with infinitely more 

 energy than would have been expected from creatures of such apparently apathetic 

 natures. 



These specimens were great water-drinkers, and would eat bread, although they 

 evidently gave the preference to meat, thus confirming the opinion that their diet is 

 naturally of a mixed character. 



SOOTY PHALANGIST. Phalaaglsta fullglaosa. 



PASSING by the curious little dormouse-like animals which are classed under the 

 genus Dromicia, we arrive at the true Phalangists, the first of which is the TAPOA, or 

 SOOTY PHALANGIST, an animal which has been gifted with its rather dismal title in 

 consequence of the uniform smoky-black color of its fur. 



The Sooty Phalangist is tolerably common in Van Diemen's Land, where it is much 

 sought after on account of its skin, which is highly valued by white and black men for 

 the purpose of being manufactured into a soft, warm, and beautiful fur. As with the 

 preceding animal, there is considerable variation in the tint of the coat, some specimens 

 being entirely clothed with a uniform dark, dull, blackish-brown, while the fur of others 



3 



