372 MARSUPIALIA. 



GREAT FLYING PHALANGER OR OPOSSUM. 

 Petaurus australis. 



This nocturnal animal is very diversified in colour ; 

 the general hue is a light bro^Yn or grey with a dark 

 stripe running down the back ; the fore legs and edge of 

 the parachute are dark brown ; the hind legs are only 

 dark brown on the low parts ; the head is dark brown ; 

 the whiskers are sparse, short, and black ; the eyes are 

 dark ; the tail is long, dark brown half way from the 

 end ; the lower half near the root is fuller, lighter, with 

 a brown stripe at the top ; the neck and belly are 

 yellowish ; the ears are long, broad, and almost bare of 

 fur, and the claws are sharp and hooked ; the fur is very 

 soft, and that on the flying membrane or parachute is 

 extremely so, and very short. 



In black varieties the belly is white, the tail of these 

 sometimes exceeds 2 feet ; white varieties are also 

 occasionally met with. 



According to Mr. Nichols this animal feeds on moths, 

 leaves, and berries. 



Like all other flying mammals, the skin is too thin to 

 allow this fur to be used for any other purpose than as 

 mounted specimens. 



