OKDER XL THE JIARSUPIALIA. 347 



At tlie time that Poron visiteJ tlic islands all the females carrieJ yoiinn- in 

 their pouch, and the courage with which they sought to save their ofl'sprins- 

 was tridy adiiiirablc. Although wounded, they flew with the young in the 

 ])0uch, and never left them, until, overcome with fatigue and loss of blood, 

 they could no longer carry them. Tiiey then stopped, and squatting them- 

 selves on (he hind legs, helped the young to get out of the pouch by means 

 of the fore feet, and sought to place them in a situation favorable for retreat. 



The tliree following species, J/. rol)t(s(us, strong-limbed kangaroo, 31. 

 penlciUntus, brush-tailed kangaroo, and M. hrucliiotis, short-eared rock 

 kangaroo, form the sub-genus Petrorjalc. The)- appear to be gregarious, 

 love rocky places, where they repose in holes. "They display great acti\ity 

 in leaping from point to point on the ledges of the rocks. Their broad feet, 

 covered with minute tubercles beneath, giving a roughness to the surface, 

 combined with the more compact form of the bod}-, and the bushy tail, are 

 well adapted to such habits. The tarsi are certainly shorter than usual in 

 the kangaroos, and more densely clothed with hairs. Beyond these charac- 

 ters, we can perceive none in which the species can be distinguished from the 

 preceding." 



We proceed now to a consideration of the Phalaxgistidje. Although at 

 first view a phalanger is as unlike a kangaroo as can well be imagined, 

 yet a closer inspection shows <i distinct relationship. The phalangcrs have 

 the same dentition as the kangaroos, and tlie same two toes on the hinder 

 foot united. They resemble the kangaroo rats in possessing a small canine 

 in the upper jaw. 



All the phalangcrs are nocturnal in their habits. They live in trees, and 

 are expert climbers, though not active iu their movements. During the day 

 they remain concealed in the hollows of trees, but about twiliglit they quit 

 these hiding and slee[)ing places, and climb amongst the branches of the 

 trees to seek tiieir food, which consists of the j'oung buds, leaves, and fruits. 

 These, it would appear, are more easy of digestion, or more nutritious, than 

 the food of the kangaroos, for the stomach of the present animals is more 

 simple. ^IM. Quoy and Gaimard state that the phalangcrs of the islands 

 north of Xew Holland feed upon aromatic fruits, but when some specimens 

 they had in confinement could not procure this food they did not refuse 

 cooked meat. Their flesh is eaten by the natives, and is said to have a good 

 flavor. In Van Diemen's Land they arc said to feed chiefly on the leaves 

 of the cucalyiiti, and ]Mr. Gunn remarks, that orchards in country places 

 suffer sometimes from the opossums eating tho leaves and young branches of 

 the trees. 



The hinder feet of these animals are always fiu-nished with a large opposa- 



