220 



It was fed upon milk, raisins, and almonds ; and indeed sweets of 

 all kinds in the form of preserved fruits, as well as loaf-sugar, met 

 with its approbation. It appears to be a very small eater. In its wild 

 state it feeds upon the honey of the blossoms of the Eucalyptus or 

 gum-trees, as well as on the tender shoots and seeds. No doubt 

 insects would form a portion of its diet. The length of the animal 

 in its present young state, evidently not full-grown, is from the head 

 to the extremity of the tail 1 foot 10 inches, and the length of the 

 tail alone is 1 foot 2 inches. The upper part of the body is of a 

 greyish-black, with handsome deep black broad lines on the upper 

 part of the head, back, and the edges of the parachute -like membrane. 

 The tail is cylindrical, black, and bushy. The under surface of the 

 body is white, with yellowish-white under the throat and about the 

 centre of the abdomen ; feet deep black, nails white. The muzzle is 

 naked and of a delicate pinkish flesh-colour ; the naked palms of the 

 feet of a similar colour. The ears are naked, semitransparent, and 

 mottled with black. The under side of the membrane between the 

 feet is also of a dirty white colour ; the fur is rather long, loose, and 

 of a soft silky texture, very delicate and fine to the touch. The head 

 is short and broad ; the ears are also broad ; the eyes black, and dull 

 during the day, more brilliant and animated at night, which conveys 

 the idea that it has very imperfect vision during the daylight. 



I have before observed that during the day it is sluggish, but at 

 night full of activity. The only time I saw it active during daylight 

 was on the day on which it was taken to the Zoological Gardens. 

 This may have been occasioned by the cage having been much shaken 

 on the road, or perhaps the gloomy atmosphere of London on that 

 day might have led the animal, so accustomed to the clear sky of 

 its native climate, to regard it, although barely noonday, as the 

 approach of night. 



In Australia the blacks capture them for food, and having prepared 

 them by singeing the fur, cook them with the skins on, which 

 gives the meat a more delicate and juicy flavour ; but by the colonists 

 they are valued only for their fur, which, in many, for delicacy and 

 beauty, almost equals that of the Chinchilla. This animal traverses 

 the tops of the trees, and passes to the extremity of the outermost 

 branches with the greatest facility. When leaping, it is observed 

 always to ascend a little at the termination of the leap, by which the 

 shock received in coming from a great height is broken. 



My captured specimen escaped one night from its place of con- 

 finement, and was seen in one of the uppermost branches of a lofty 

 weeping-willow tree, quietly reposing between one of the forks of the 

 larger branches. A boy was sent to climb up the tree to come upon 

 the animal when asleep. By creeping cautiously up he approached 

 the creature without being seen or heard, and, succeeding in seizing 

 it by the tail, threw it down a height of about 60 feet, when by the 

 assistance of its parachute-like membrane it alighted safely upon 

 the ground, and was then readily secured again. It holds a raisin 

 or almond in its fore-paws, licking and nibbling it. It is often seen 

 lying upon its back at the bottom of the cage when feeding, and when 



