MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA 201 



One kept in a large aviary at the end of the bungalow verandah 

 was closely observed. It was generally sleepy during the daytime, 

 but uncoiled and came out of its snug bed in a tea-chest as the 

 evening shadows commenced to deepen under the lilac bushes. 

 " Chalgo " was fond of tender tea-tree shoots, but he also liked roses ; 

 it was a pretty picture when he sat nibbling the petals of a choice 

 bud given him by the lady of the roses. After giving cage-life a fair 

 trial, "Chalgo" decided in favour of the scrub, and one night went 

 to join "his own people" outside the garden close. 



The Ring-Tailed Opossum builds a big dome-shaped nest, which 

 is said to resemble that of the English Squirrel ; it is constructed of 

 interlaced tea-tree twigs with the leaves upon them, and made very 

 snug within. It is a favourite amusement of school-boys in Victoria 

 to search out these nests, and shake the sleepy occupants out and 

 chase them through the scrub. Many of the "Ring-Tails" are 

 captured in this way, and taken to the boys' homes to become pets. 



At the shops of the Melbourne bird-dealers, they are sometimes 

 offered for sale at prices varying from five to ten shillings. They 

 find a ready market, sailors from the ships in port being frequent 

 customers; so that a good number must reach England and other 

 countries overseas in the course of a year. 



FLYING OPOSSUMS. The Flying Opossums are among the 

 most beautiful of all Australian mammals, and the curious para- 

 chute-like expansion of the skin along the sides of the body renders 

 them of peculiar interest. 



GREATER FLYING OPOSSUM. One of the best-known species is 

 the Greater Flying Opossum (Petauroides volans). It is of fairly 

 large size, a full-grown specimen measuring seventeen inches from 

 tip of nose to root of tail ; tail twenty inches. The fur is as soft 

 as silk and very long, the colour being dark-grey to black above, 

 white or pale yellowish on the under-parts. The colour of the 

 tail varies from ashy-grey to black. It will be realized from this 

 description that the Greater Flying Opossum is a strikingly hand- 

 some creature ; it is, indeed, fatally beautiful, the fur is coveted, 

 but the skin is so tender that it is very difficult to remove it without 

 tearing. The Greater Flying Opossum ranges over Eastern 

 Australia, from Queensland to Victoria. The creature, despite its 

 name, does not actually fly; the parachute-like expansions of the 

 skin, mentioned above, aid in supporting the body when the animal 

 makes its long leaps from one tall gum-tree to another. The 



