110 THE ARIEL PETAURUS. 
The food of the Petaurists is generally of a vegetable character, consisting 
of leaves, fruits, and buds, but the sharply-pointed molars of the Opossum 
Mouse approach so closely to the insectivorous type that the creature is 
probably able to vary a vegetable diet by occasional admixture with animal 
food. : 
The parachute-like expansion of the skin is of very great service to the 
animal when it wishes to pass from one branch or from one tree to another 
without the trouble of descending and the laborious climbing up again. 
Trusting to the powers of its parachute, the little creature will boldly launch 
itself into the air, stretching out all its limbs, and expanding the skin to the 
utmost. Upborne by this membrane, the Opossum Mouse can sweep through 
very great intervals of space, and possesses no small power of altering its 
course at will. It cannot, however, support itself in the air by moving its 
limbs, like the bats, nor can it make any aérial progress when the original 
impetus of its leap has expired. 
ARIEL PETAURUS.—(Fetaurus Ariel.) 
The beautiful little animal which has been called by the expressive name 
of ARIEL, is about the size of a small rat, and in the hue of the upper portions 
of the body is not unlike that animal. 
The colour of the fur upon the upper portions of the body is a light brown, 
which darkens considerably upon the parachute membrane. On the under 
surface it is white, the white fur just turning over, the edge of the parachute, 
and presenting a pretty contrast with the dark brown colour of its upper 
surface. The tail is nearly of the same colour as the body, with the excep- 
tion of the tip, which is dark. On account of its graceful movements, and 
the easy undulating sweep of its passage through the air, it has earned for 
itself the appropriate name of Ariel, in remembrance of the exquisite and 
tricksy sprite that animates the world-celebrated drama of the “ Tempest.” 
It is not an uncommon animal, and is frequently seen at Port Essington. 
Fox-like in nature as well as in form, the VULPINE PHALANGIST has well 
earned the name which has been given to it by common consent. It has also 
been entitled the Vulpine Opossum, and in its native country is popularly 
called by the latter of these names. 
It is an extremely common animal, and is the widest diffused of all the 
Australian opossum-like animals, Like the preceding animals, it is a noc- 
turnal being, residing during the day in the hollows of decaying trees, and 
