110 



somewhat larger head and much larger and more powerful teeth, and 

 is moreover rendered conspicuously different from that species by the 

 nuchal band being of a deep sandy buff instead of deep rust-red, and 

 not continuous round the neck ; by the crown of the head and back 

 being almost jet-black ; and the eyes being conspicuously encircled 

 with deep buff' (whence the specific name) ; in which latter character 

 it assimilates to P. funereus, but scarcely to any other. Respecting 

 this species Mr. Macgillivray writes : " Is this not new to Australia ? 

 It is not funereus, of which see skull No. 7 and skin No. 8, nor is it 

 poliocepkahis. Of its habits I extract the following note from my 

 journal : ' On the wooded slope of a hill on Fitzroy Island I one day 

 fell in with this bat in prodigious numbers, looking while flying along 

 the bright sunshine (so unusual for a nocturnal animal) like a large 

 flock of rooks : on close approach a strong musky odour became ap- 

 parent, and a loud incessant chattering was heard ; many of the 

 branches were bending under their load of bats, some in a state of 

 inactivity suspended by their hind claws, others scrambling along 

 among the boughs and taking to wing when disturbed. In a very 

 short time I procured as many specimens as I wished, three and four 

 at a shot, for they hung in clusters, but unless killed outright they 

 remained suspended for some time : when wounded they are handled 

 with difficulty, as they bite severely, and on such occasions their cry 

 reminds one of the squalling of a child.' " 



Phalangista (Pseudocheirus) nudicaudata, Gould. 



Sp. Ch. — Head, all the upper surface, the sides of the body, and the 

 outer sides of the limbs, brownish grey ; the tips of the hairs with a 

 silky appearance ; under surface of the neck and body and the inner 

 sides of the limbs pale buff ; the colouring of the upper and under sur- 

 face distinctly defined on the sides of the body, but gradually blending 

 on the limbs, the rump and root of the tail, which is thickly clothed 

 onjts basal third and naked for the remainder of its length ; hands, 

 feet, and naked portion of the tail pinky flesh-colour. 



inches. 



Length from tip of nose to root of tail 12 



of tail 8 



of fore-feet, including the naUs 3 



of hind-feet, including the nails 3^ 



Hub. Cape York, the most northern point of Australia. 



This species differs from all the other Australian members of the 

 genus, in having the apical three-fourths of its tail entirely destitute 

 of hair ; in the light-coloured mark on the rump, somewhat re- 

 sembling that on the same part of the Koala ; and in its short dense 

 fur and short ears. 



The above description and admeasurements are taken from a fe- 

 male said to be about two-thirds grovrn. "The ears are exceedingly 

 short and rounded, and the fur is remarkable for its extreme density 

 and for its resemblance to that of the Koala. 



