cii.\r. xvii.] 



MAMMALIA. 



251 



The well-known Kangaroos are the most largely developed 

 family of j\[arsupials, and they appear to be the form best adapted 

 for the present conditions of life in Australia, over every part of 

 which they range. One genus of true terrestrial kangaroos {Dor- 

 copsis), inhabits the Papuan Islands, as do also the curious tree 

 kangaroos {Dendrolagus) which, without much apparent modifica- 

 tion of form, are al)le to climb trees and feed upon the foliage. 

 The genera, as established by Mr. Waterhouse, are as follows : 

 Macropus (4 sp.). West, South, and East Australia, and Tasmania 

 (Plate XII., vol. i. p. 441) ; Osphrantcr (5 sp.), all Australia ; 

 Halmaturus (18 sp.), all Australia and Tasmania ; Petrogale (7 

 sp.), all Australia ; Dendrolagus (2 sp.), New Guinea (Plate X., 

 vol. i. p. 414) ; Dorcopsis (2 sp.) Aru and IMysol Islands, and 

 New Guinea ; Onyclwgalca (3 sp.), Central Australia ; Lagor- 

 chcstcs (o sp.), North, West, and .South Australia ; Bdtongia (6 

 sp.). West, South, and East, Australia, and Tasmania ; Hypsi- 

 l)rymnus (4 sp.). West and East Australia, and Tasmania. 



Mxiinct Macropodidcr. — ^Nfany species of the genera Blacropus 

 and Hypsipivjinnus ha"*'e been found in the cave-deposits and 

 other Post-Tertiar}' strata of Australia. Among the extinct genera 

 are ProUmnodon and Sthcnnms, whicli are more allied to the 

 tree -kangaroos of New Guinea than to living Australian species ; 

 the gigantic Diprotodon, a kangaroo nearly as large as an elephant ; 

 and Nototlierium, of smaller size. 



Family 81.~PHALANC!ISTII).E. (8 Genera, 27 Species.) 



General Distiubutiox. 



Keotropical 

 Sub-regions. 



Kearctic 

 Sub-regions. 



Pal^arctic 

 Sub-regions. 



Ethiopian 

 Sub-regions. 



Oriestai, 

 Sub-regions. 



australian 

 Sub-regions, 



1.2- 



The Phalangistido}, or phalangers, are one of the most varied 

 and interesting groups of Marsupials, being modified in a variety 

 of ways for an arboreal life. We have the clumsy-looking 

 tail-less koala, or native sloth ; the prehensile-tailed opossum-like 

 phalangers ; the beautiful Hying oppossums, so closely rcsemliling 



