MAESUPIATA. 105 



[Tlie autlior enumerates three, to which four have since been added by Mr. Ogilby, and an eiffhth by M. GeofTroy. 

 niose atii mats keep in holes of trees till tvvilisht, and for an hour or two after sunset are observed eating: the 

 lea\'ea of the dilTerent Eiicalijpti ; also, in retired places, those with the younff shoots of fruit-trees. The P/i. vul- 

 piiia is known as the Brush-tailed Opossum in Van Diemen's Land, and the Ph. Cookii, as the Ring-tailed 

 Opossum.] 



The Petaurists {Petaurus, Shaw ; Phalaiujista, Illig.) — 



Have the skin of the flanks more or less extended between the legs, as iu the Colugos, and Taguans 

 among the Rodents, by which they are enabled to sustain themselves iu the air for some seconds, and 

 to make greater leaps. They have been found only in New Holland. 



Some of the species still possess inferior canines, but extremely small. Their upper canines and 

 the three first molars, both aljove and below, are very pointed ; the back molars have each four points 

 [the last excepted, in which tliere are but three]. M. Desmarest has named this division AcrohaUs. 

 [It possesses thirty-six teeth in all] 



The Pygmy Petaurist (Bid. pignuca, Shaw) .—Of the colour and nearly the size of a Mouse ; the hairs of the tail 

 disposed very regularly on its two sides like the barbs of a feather. 



Other species have no inferior canines, and the superior are very small. Their four back molars 

 each present four points, but a little curved into a crescent, somewhat as oliserved in the Kuminants. 

 Anteriorly, there are two above and one below, less complicated : this structure renders them still 

 more frugivorous than any of the preceding. [Their teeth amount in all to thirty-four.] 



The Great Petaurist {Bid. petaurus, Shaw ; P. taguanoides, Desm.) — Resembles the Tagaun and the Colugo in 

 size : its fur is soft and thick, and the tail long and [not in those which I have seen] llattened : brown-black 

 above, white underneath. 



The Sciurine Petaurist {Did. sciurca, Shaw). — Ash-coloured above, white beneath, and smaller than the pre- 

 ceding; a brown line commencing on the muzzle and continued along the back : the tail tufted, and as long as the 

 body, its posterior portion black. From the islands near New Guinea. [It is abundant along the south coast of 

 New Holland. The teeth are forty in number, and exhibit considerable modification ; hence this animal has been 

 made a separate division of the Bdidca, Waterh. There are but four true molars to each jaw, with comparatively 

 blunt tubercles originally ; three false molars and a middle-sized canine above, and four small flattened teeth 

 below : the palate also is in this group perfect, whereas it is not so in the two others. Four or five species are 

 known to possess these characters. 



The remainder appertain to the same minimum group as P. taguanoides.} 



Our third subdivision possesses the incisors and superior canines of the preceding. The 

 two toes of the hind-foot are also similarly united ; but the posterior thumbs and inferior 

 canines are wanting. It contains but a single genus, 



The Potoroos {Ilgpsijjrgnmiis, lUig.), — • 

 Which are the last animals of this family that retain any trace of the general character of the Car- 

 naria. Their teeth are nearly the same as in the Phalangers, and they still have pointed canines above 

 [which all but disappear in one species]. Their two middle upper incisors are longer than the rest, 

 and pointed ; the two inferior ones project forwards. They have anteriorly a long trencltant and 

 dentclated molar, followed by four others, each with four blunt tubercles. What particidarly di-tiuguishcs 

 these animals, however, is their hind legs, which are very much longer in proportion than then fore 

 ones, that have no thumbs, and the two first toes of wdiieh are joined 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 

 often hop on their hind-feet, at which time they make use of their long and stroug tail to support 

 themselves. They have accordingly the form and habits of the Kangaroos, from which they only ditfer in 

 possessing the superior canine. Their regimen is frugivorous, and the stomach large, dirided into two 

 sacs, and possessing several intlations ; but their ccecum is moderate and rounded. 



Only one species is known, the size of a small Rabbit, and of a mouse-grey colour, which is termed the Kauga- 

 roo-rat (Macropus minor, Shaw.) [Five or six others have since been discovered, two of which, inhabiting New 

 Guinea, are remarkable for their arboreal habits, in reference to which their structure is slightly modified, the 

 Umbs being less unequal, and the great nails of their hind-feet curved : they do not, however, essentially difi'er 

 from the others. One species is common in the interior of Van Diemen's Land]. 



The fourth subdivision diU'crs only from the tliird in having no canines whatever. 

 The Kangaroos, (Macropus, Shaw ; Halmaturus, lUig.), — 

 la which all the characters occur that we have assigned to the pre'Jtding genus, except that the upper 



