ORDER XI. THE MAKSUPIALIA. 34^ 



" In tlicir hnbits they are extremely like the dormout^e, feeding on nuts, 

 and other shnilar food, which llioy hold hi theii" fore paws, using them as 

 hands. They are nocturnal, remaining asleep during tiie whole day, or, it" 

 disturbed, not easily roused to a state of activity ; and coming fortii late in 

 the evening, and then assuming their natural rajiid and vivacious habits. 

 Tiiey run about a small tree which is placed in their cage, using their paws 

 to hold by the branches, and assisting themselves by their prehensile tail, 

 which is always held in rc>idiness to support them, especiallv wlien in a 

 descending attitude. Sometimes tiie tail is tiirown in a reverse direction, 

 turned over the back, and at other times, when tiic weather is cold, it is 

 rolled closely up towards the imdcr part, and coiled almost between the 

 thighs. A\'hen eating, they sit upon their hind rpiarters, holding the food in 

 tiieir fore paws, whicii, with the face, are the only parts apparently standing 

 out from the ball of fur, of whicli the body seems at that time to be 

 composed. They arc perfectly harmless and tame, permitting any one 

 to liold and caress them without ever attempting to bite, but do not 

 evince the least attachment cither to persons about them, or even to each 

 other." 



Genus Petauuus. — The members of this group are distinguished by 

 a membrane extending from limb to limb, and by a tail densely clothed 

 throughout with fin-. 



P. Tciyuunoides. — The Flying Opossum. In Xew South Wales this 

 animal is called the gray flying sipiirrel, from its resemblance to the rodent 

 of tiiat name in its mode of locomoticni, gliding from tree to tree by the aid 

 of its parachute membrane. The head of tiiis species is very short, and the 

 tail veiy long, and the whole animal is covered with remarkably long hair, 

 of a brownish-black color. It is about tlic size of a rabbit. 



P. Flaciventtr. — Tlie Yellow-licllicd Petaurus is about twenty inches 

 lonir to the root of the tail. The ijeneral color is !jra\isli-brown, with a 

 yellowish tint. 



P. Mucroiu'tt--<. — Long-tailed Petaurus. According to Shaw, this species 

 is about the size of the black rat, and is of a dark or brownish-gray color 

 above, and whitish beneath. 



P. Sciiu-cus. — The Squirrel-like Petaurus is an animal about eight and a 

 lialf inches long, of an ashy-gray color above, and white beneath. It is a 

 native of New South A^'ales, where it is sometimes called "^»orfolk Island 

 flying squirrel," and also the "sugar squirrel." 



i^ JJreviceps. — Short-headed Petaurus. Tiiis species is about six and a 

 half inches in length, and of a general ashy-gray color. Habitat same as 

 the preceding. 



P. Pygiitwus. — Pygmy Petaurus. A very diminutive species, called 



