PHALANGERIDE I51 
zoological gardens, where, however, it is seldom seen, owing to 
its nocturnal habits. It is of about the size and general build of 
a small fox, whence its name. In the typical variety the colour 
is gray, with a yellowish white belly, white ears, and a black tail. 
This variety is a native of the greater part of the continent of 
Australia, but is replaced in Tasmania by the closely allied Brown 
Phalanger (var. fuliginosa). Its habits are very similar to those of 
the Yellow-bellied Flying-Phalanger (Petawrus australis) described 
below, except that it is unable to take the flying leaps of that animal. 
Like all the other phalangers, its flesh is freely eaten both by the 
natives and the lower class of settlers. 
Pseudochirus1—The genus Pseudochirus agrees with the pre- 
ceding in the absence of a flying membrane, and presents the 
following leading characters. Size large or medium. Fur com- 
paratively short and woolly. Ears medium or short, hairy 
behind, although seldom closely furred over all this aspect. 
Claws medium. Fore toes subequal, the first two distinctly 
opposable to the other three. Soles of feet naked, with large, 
striated, round pads, and hair beneath the heels. Tail tapering, 
markedly prehensile, with its distal third and the whole of the 
under surface short-haired; tip naked underneath for a short 
distance. Four mamme. No gland on chest. Skull with larger 
nasals than in the preceding genera; the posterior part of the 
palate in most cases fully ossified, and the auditory bulle generally 
(2—3) (0O—1) 3 4 
eee Ne a Vag 
Upper teeth nearly uniform in length, but the first incisor distinctly 
longer than second. Upper premolars variable. Molars with both 
inner and outer cusps distinctly crescentoid, and recalling those 
of the Selenodont Artiodactyle Ungulates. 
Range.—Tasmania, Australia, and New Guinea. 
There are about ten species of this genus known, of which the 
commonest is Cook’s Ring-tailed Phalanger (Pseudochirus peregrinus), 
an animal discovered by Captain Cook during his first voyage, at 
Endeavour river, North Queensland. 
The complex and sub-selenodont character of the molars of this 
and the following genus readily distinguish them from the more 
typical Phalangers, and show an approximation to the type of 
dentition prevailing in Phascolarctus ; according, however, to Mr. 
O. Thomas, a tendency towards the same structure is observable 
in unworn molars of young Cuscuses. The genus may be divided 
into three groups, of which the first, as typified by the common P. 
peregrinus, is restricted to Australia and Tasmania, while the third, 
as represented by P. canescens, is only found in New Guinea. P. 
albertisi may be taken as the type of the second group, which is 
somewhat inflated. Dentition (at most) i 
1 Ogilby, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1836, p. 26. 
