24 MAMMALIA. 



their lives chioflj^ in the mangrove swamps tliat fringe the shores 

 of parts of that great island, which are under water at high tide, 

 the Tree Kangaroos traversing the branches of the mangroves 

 with facility and speed. 



Certain fossil animals, of enormous size, have been discovered in 

 the bone-caves, &c., of Australia, which are proved to have been 

 gigantic Marsupials. Among them the Biprotodon Austmlis was 

 even larger than a Rhinoceros, although akin to the Kangaroos. 

 The Nototherium inerme and N. Mitchelli were equally stupendous 

 marsujjial animals which were probably allied to the Koala, or 

 perhaps to the Wombats. The Thylacoleo was at first supposed to 

 have been a huge marsupial carnivore, but opinions are at present 

 divided as to the exact afiinity of this great fossil beast, which has 

 become exterminated within comparatively recent times. 



PhahdKjers. — In some of their characteristics, in their general 

 form, and in their mode of life, the creatures belonging to the genus 

 Phalanger bear a certain resemblance to Monkeys and Lemurs. 

 They have the great toe of their jDosterior members opposable to 

 their other toes, and without any nail ; in the majority of these 

 animals the tail is prehensile, as in some of the Monkeys of 

 America. They inhabit forests, climb trees with moderate agility, 

 and feed on fruits, to which they sometimes add birds' eggs and 

 insects. They are hunted and eaten, although they diffuse an 

 impleasant odour. Their size is either middling or small. 



They are divided into three groups : the Koala, the Phalangers 

 properly so called, and the Petaurists. 



The Koala is characterised by a total absence of tail. Only 

 one species is known. It is often designated by the colonists the 

 native Bear, and is said to feed exclusively on green foliage, 

 though probably also on fruits. All efforts to bring it alive to 

 Europe have failed hitherto (Fig. 7). 



The true Phalangers have the tail prehensile; some of them 

 are termed Couscous, which inhabit those islands of the Great 

 Eastern Archipelago that are included in the Australian region. 

 Fig. 8 represents the Sooty Phalanger. Lastly, the Petaurists, 

 or Flying Phalangers, are provided with a parachute membrane 

 between their flanks, and support themselves in the air after the 

 manner of the Flying Squirrels. These species differ much in size. 



Tardpedes and Bcmdacoots. — There is little to be said about 



