MARSUPIALIA. 87 



Other species have no inferior canini, while the superior ones are very 

 small. Their four back molars present four points, but tliey are slightly 

 curved into a crescent, which is very nearly tlie form of those of the 

 Ruminantia. In front, there are two above, and one below, less compli- 

 cated. By this structure they are rendered still more frugivorous than all 

 tlie preceding species. 



Ph. petaurus. (The Great Flying Phalanger.) Resembles the Taguan 

 and the Galeopithecus in size; its fur is soft and close; its tail long and 

 flattened; brownish-black above, white beneath. They are of various 

 shades of brown; some are variegated, and others perfectly white. 



Our third subdivision has the incisors and superior canini of the 

 second. The two toes of the hind feet are also similarly united; 

 but the posterior thumbs and inferior canini are wanting. It con- 

 tains but a single genus. 



Hypsiprymnus, Illig.(l) 

 The Potoroos are the last animals of this family which retain any trait of the 

 general characters of the Carnaria. Their teeth are nearly the same as 

 those of the Phalangers, and they still have pointed canini above. What 

 particularly distinguishes these animals is their hind legs, which are much 

 larger in proportion than the fore ones, that have no thumbs, and the two 

 first toes united as far as the nail; so that, at a first glance, it seems as 

 though there were but three toes, the middle one having two nails. They 

 frequently walk upon two feet, at which times they employ their long and 

 strong tail to support themselves. They have then the form and habits of 

 the Kanguroos, from which they only differ in their superior canine tooth. 

 They are frugivorous. 



Hyps, minor. (The Kanguroo Rat. ) Sizeof a small Rabbit; of a mouse- 

 grey. From New Holland, where it is called Potoroo. It is the only spe- 

 cies known. 



The fourth subdivision only differs from the third in the absence 

 of all canini whatsoever, it is the 



Macropus, Shaw. — Halmaturus, Illig.(2) 



The Kanguroos have all the characters we have assigned to the preceding 

 genus, except that the superior canine is wanting, and that their middle 

 incisors do not project beyond the others. The inequality of their legs is 

 still greater, so that on all fours they can only walk slowly and with diffi- 

 culty; they make vigorous leaps however with their hind feet, the great 



(1) t-^i'TTgufjivog; i. e. raised behind. 



(2) Halmaturus, tail fit for leaping. 



