CHAP. XXXIX.] OF THE PAPUAN ISLANDS. 429 



peans. It inhabits Mysol and the Aru Islands (an allied 

 species being found in New Guinea), and was seen and 

 described by Le Brun in 1714, from living specimens at 

 Batavia. A much more extraordinary creature is the tree- 

 kangaroo, two species of which are known from New 

 Guinea. These animals do not differ very strikingly in form 

 from the terrestrial kangaroos, and appear to be but imper- 

 fectly adapted to an arboreal life, as they move rather 

 slowly, and do not seem to have a very secure footing on 

 the limb of a tree. The leaping power of the muscular tail 

 is lost, and powerful claws ha,ve been acquired to assist 

 in climbing, but in other respects the animal seems better 

 adapted to walk on terra firma. This imperfect adapta- 

 tion may be due to the fact of there being no carnivora 

 in New Guinea, and no enemies of any kind from which 

 these animals have to escape by rapid climbing. Four 

 species of Cuscus, and the small flying opossum, also in- 

 habit New Guinea ; and there are five other smaller mar- 

 supials, one of which is the size of a rat, and takes its 

 place by entering houses and devouring provisions. 



The birds of New Guinea offer the greatest possible 

 contrast to the Mammalia, since they are more numerous, 

 more beautiful, and afford more new, curious, and elegant 

 forms than those of any other island on the globe. 

 Besides the Birds of Paradise, which we have already 



