219 



vicious propensities when in so young a state would be formidable 

 and savage when adult, which has been found to be the case. The 

 aborigines, who capture them for food, pull them by the tail from the 

 cavity of the tree, and kill them by dashing their brains out against 

 it before they are able to inflict any injury upon their capturers. 

 The animal, from the conformation of its feet, is evidently intended 

 to live in trees, and therefore when seen on the ground has a very 

 awkward, waddling gait. This is shown but seldom, and then only 

 when it is obliged to walk upon the level surface of the ground. 

 When climbing upon a tree it becomes more independent in cha- 

 racter, and it regards the spectator from the top of its perch in a 

 very different manner. It retires either between the forked branches 

 or in the hollow cavities during the day to sleep, and at night pass- 

 ing from one tree to another by flying leaps, aided by its para- 

 chute-like membrane, descends to the ground only from unavoidable 

 necessity, such as the trees being so far apart as to render it impos- 

 sible to traverse the space by leaping. When pursued it takes to the 

 highest branches, and springs from tree to tree with great rapidity, 

 reminding me of monkeys seen in the forests of Singapore, which, 

 when frightened, exhibit a similar, degree of activity. It contrives 

 to elude its pursuers by leaps, which, giving an impetus to the body, 

 are very materially aided by the expanded membrane between the 

 fore and hind feet. This enables the animal to pass over a very 

 considerable distance in its leaps. It is surprising to see it passing 

 from branch to branch and tree to tree in the clear and delightful 

 atmosphere of a fine Australian moonlight night, with so extraor- 

 dinary a degree of skill and rapidity. But I remarked that the fly- 

 ing leaps were invariably downwards in an oblique direction ; and 

 that, when desirous of ascending, the creature would climb rapidly, 

 and if overtaken would cling so tenaciously to the bark of the tree, 

 as, while living, to be very difficult of removal. 



Having become tamer from confinement, the animal would suffer 

 itself to be handled without scratching and biting as at first, and 

 would lick the hand for sweets, of which it was very fond, and 

 permit its little nose to be touched and fur examined in any gentle 

 manner. But if any one attempted to take it up by the body, it 

 became most violent in temper, biting and scratching with savage 

 rage, at the same time uttering its snarling, wheezing, spitting kind 

 of guttural growl. If caught by the tail it would be more quiet 

 (excepting if held too long in one position), and would spread the 

 membranes as if to save itself from falling. Its beautiful fur above 

 and beneath could be well seen in that position, much better than 

 in the ordinary position of the animal when in action. Although 

 tamer in confinement, it appears devoid of any attachment to those 

 who feed it, for it evinces all the symptoms of dislike at being taken 

 up by the body, whether by a stranger or by the person by whom it 

 has been accustomed to be fed. It is a crepuscular and night animal, 

 sleeping most of the day, coiled up in a circle, with its bushy tail 

 thrown over it like a blanket ; but it occasionally wakes up and feeds 

 a little. 



