24 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 
As a matter of fact, the position exhibited at such times is almost identical with that 
assumed by a trained acrobat performing on the high trapeze, or that of the Langur 
monkeys, as they have been observed by the writer, leaping across the intervening 
spaces between the forest tree tops on the outskirts of the Botanic Gardens, at 
Singapore. The head and shoulders, as represented in the photographic illustration 
reproduced on this page, are always maintained at the highest level, with the fore 
limbs outstretched and ready to grasp the first branch or other object reached. 
That this is the true position maintained by the Phalangers during their flying 
leaps was very practically demonstrated by one of the examples of the Sugar 
Squirrel, Petaurus breviceps, obtained - - — — 
from Roebuck Bay, Western Australia, vy y Lp 
and presented to the author by Mr. 
G. S. Streeter. This little animal 
W. Saville-Kent, Photo. 
SHORT-HFADED FLYING PHALANGER. 
Petaurus breviceps, SHOWING POSITION MAIN- 
TAINED DURING ITS CHARACTERISTIC FLYING- 
LEAP. ONE-THIRD NATURAL SIZE. 
accompanied him for some time on his travels, usually sleeping in its cage throughout 
the day, waking up to its characteristic activity as soon as the sun had set, and 
sharing the full liberty of whatever apartment was allotted to its owner. At one 
resting stage, a room some thirty feet long and over fifteen feet high was placed at 
the writer’s disposal. The flying squirrel speedily signalised its appreciation of the 
abundant space at command, by climbing up the curtains and cornices and thence 
gaining access to the projecting frieze close to the ceiling. Arrived at this coign of 
vantage, the little fellow delighted in launching himself through the air, with limbs 
and patagium outspread, to objects at the most remote end of the room, the author’s 
