Central Parts of Victoria. 71 
river, and appears to entertain a peculiar aversion to the 
high lands. This animal is unquestionably one of the most 
beautiful animals in the country; and its fur, which is par- 
ticularly fine and soft, will, no doubt, at some future time, 
become an article of commercial value. The petaurus flies 
with considerable facility from tree to tree, on which it is 
only detected by the motion of its long and bushy tail, and 
the peculiar shrieks which announce its desperate leaps. The 
general color is yellowish-grey, sometimes of a rusty hue. 
Closely allied to the above species is the flying opossum, 
(Petaurus taquanoides,) black squirrel, which differs from it 
chiefly in the larger size which it ‘attains, the blackness of 
its coat, and the greater length of the tail. 
*A third species is of a white colour, sometimes becoming 
of a yellowish-grey tint; but whether the specimens which 
‘came under my notice were albinos or not I am at present 
unable to decide. 
A fourth variety, somewhat smaller than the preceding ; 
color, ash-grey. 
A fifth species, still smaller; grey colour. 
The sixth and last variety is that known by the name of 
flying mouse (Petaurus pygmeus). 
The Petaurii, I am inclined to believe, breed nearly two 
months later than the other branches of the marsupiala. 
The embryo remains blind during its second period. 
_ Opossums ( Didelphis ).—The class of animals to which the 
term opossum was originally applied, and to which it is 
therefore with strict propriety limited, has no representatives 
whatever in Australia. The didelphis, however, familiarly 
recognised as opossum by the colonists, occurs in three 
different varieties. 
a. Brush-tailed opossum. 
b. A second variety, in which the tail is tipped white. 
c. Ring-Tail Opossum.—The fetus of this species is 
black, a distinction sufficiently gteat to make it rank as an 
independent group. 
The young of the opossums are brought forth in the latter 
end of June; but do not obtain their full sight till the 
middle of August. 
Phalangista.—To the family phalangista belong the flying 
squirrels ( Petaurii ), and opossums (Didelphis ). 
Chiroptera.—As yet only two species of chiroptera have 
been discovered in Victoria, viz., the vampyre bat, and the 
common small bat. 
