4 66 THE VULPINE PHALANGIST. 



is warmly tinged with a chestnut hue. The tail of this animal is extremely full, the 

 hair being thick, long, and very bushy, more so than that of the body and limbs. One 

 of the most remarkable points in the coloring of this animal is the fact that the abdo- 

 men and the under portions of its body retain the brown hue of the upper portions 

 instead of being covered with the beautiful white or yellowish fur which is found in 

 nearly all the preceding animals. The ears of the Tapoa are rather elongated, and trian- 

 gular in form, thickly covered with hair on the outside, but naked on their inner faces. 

 In the structure of this creature a rather peculiar formation is well defined, and as 

 it is one of the distinctive marks by which the genus Phalangista is separated from its 

 neighbors, it is well worthy of notice. The tail is, to all appearance, entirely covered 

 with a heavy coating of thick, long, and loose hair, but if that member be lifted up, so 

 as to expose the under surface, and carefully examined, it will be seen that at the 

 extremity the tail is bare of fur, and that a naked stripe runs for some little distance 

 from the tip towards the base. During the lifetime of the animal, this naked stripe, 

 together with the nose and the soles of the feet, are of a light flesh color. 



FOX-LIKE in nature as well as in form, the VULPINE PHALANGIST has well earned the 

 name which has been given to it by common consent. It has also been entitled 

 the Vulpine Opossum, and in its native country is popularly called by the latter of these 

 names. 



It is an extremely common animal, and is the widest diffused of all the Australian 

 opossum-like animals. Like the preceding animals, it is a nocturnal being, residing 

 during the day in the hollows of decaying trees, and only venturing from its retreat as 

 evening draws on. The nature of its food is of a mixed character, for the creature is 

 capable of feeding on vegetable food, like the Petaurists, and also displays a consider- 

 able taste for animal food of all kinds. If a small bird be given to a Vulpine Phalangist, 

 the creature seizes it in his paws, manipulates it adroitly for a while, and then tears it 

 to pieces and eats it. It is rather a remarkable fact, that the animal is peculiarly fond 

 of the brain, and always commences its feast by crushing the head between its teeth 

 and devouring the brain. 



In all probability, therefore, the creature makes no small portion of its meals on 

 various animal substances, such as insects, reptiles, and eggs. As to the birds on which 

 it so loves to feed, it may very probably, although so slow an animal, capture them in the 

 same manner as has been related of the lemurs, viz., by creeping slowly and cautiously 

 upon them as they sleep, and swiftly seizing them before they can awaken to a sense 

 of their danger. It is a tolerably large animal, equalling a large cat in dimensions, and 

 is, therefore, able to make dire havoc among such prey whenever it chooses to issue 

 forth with the intention of making a meal upon some small bird that may chance to be 

 sleeping in fancied security. 



The fore-paws of the Vulpine Phalangist are well adapted for such proceedings, as 

 they are possessed of great strength and mobility, so that the animal is able to take up 

 any small object in its paws, and to hold it after the manner of the common squirrel. 

 When feeding, it generally takes its food in its fore-paws, and so conveys it to its mouth. 

 In captivity it does not seem to be a very intelligent animal, even when night brings 

 forth its time of energy, and it but little responds to the advances of its owner, however 

 kind he may be. It will feed on bread and milk, or fruits, or leaves, or buds, or any 

 substance of a similar nature, but always seems best pleased when it is supplied with 

 some small birds or animals, and devours them with evident glee. 



The flesh of the Vulpine Phalangist is considered to be very good, and the natives 

 are so fond of it that, notwithstanding the laziness that is engrained in their very beings, 

 except when they are under the influence of some potent excitement, they can seldom 

 refrain from chasing an " opossum," even though they have been well fed by the white 

 settlers. When the fresh body of a Vulpine Phalangist is opened, a kind of cam- 

 phorated odor is diffused from it, which is probably occasioned by the foliage of the 

 camphor-perfumed trees in which it dwells, and the leaves of which it eats. 



The fur of this animal is not valued so highly as that of the Tapoa, probably because 

 it is of more common occurrence, for the color of the hair is much more elegant, and its 



