MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES 319 
THE PHALANGERS 
The Phalanger Family of 
Marsupials, which next invites 
attention, is constituted of 
animals especially adapted to 
lead an arboreal life, though 
among themselves they ex- 
hibit very considerable struc- 
tural variations. The species 
usually placed at the head of 
this group is the essentially 
droll and in many respects 
abnormal form known as the 
Koala, or AUSTRALIAN 
NATIVE BEAR. Its little podgy 
tailless body, short thick-set 
head, and round tufted ears 
lend some countenance per- 
haps to the ursine analogy; 
but there the likeness ends. 
The koala is limited in 
its distribution to the south- 
eastern region of the Australian 
Continent, and is there found 
inhabiting the loftiest gum- 
trees, on the leaves and flowers 
of which it almost exclusively 
feeds. Compared with the 
opossum and squirrel-like 
phalangers, the koala is'a * Phote by W. Saville-Kent, F Z.S. 
very slow and sedentary little 
animal, remaining stationary 
in and browsing upon the 
leaves of the same gum-tree 
for days or even weeks at a stretch. Taking advantage of this home-staying propensity, 
examples are established, with full liberty to wander at will among the large gum trees, in 
the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, and have never abused the confidence reposed in them by 
surreptitiously absconding. The young koalas in particular make the most droll and delightful 
of household pets, speedily becoming attached to and following their owners about the premises, 
or contentedly settling down to the possession of an allotted corner of the verandah, in which 
an improvised perch has been erected and a constant supply of its favourite gum-leaves is daily 
assured. One such example, kept in Brisbane, Queensland, furnished the writer with the material 
for the photograph on this page; also of another one that illustrated in an interesting manner 
the very singular attitude assumed by the animal when asleep. Instead of creeping into the 
hollow trunk or spout of a gum or other tree, as the opossums and other phalangers are wont 
to do, the little “bear” simply sticks tight to his supporting branch, and, tucking in his 
head and ears and limbs, converts himself into an apparently homogeneous rounded mass of 
fur or moss, and, thus disguised, peacefully sleeps. Seen at some little distance, in fact, 
none but a trained eye could distinguish this sleeping bear from one of the round woody 
excrescences or bunches of mistletoe-like parasitic growths that are of common occurrence on 
the trees in every gum forest. In this way the little creature secures immunity from the 
KOALA, OR AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BEAR AND CUB 
An excellent illustration of the way in which the female koalas carry their young securely 
perched on their backs 
