74 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
passes from the point of the nose along the back 
towards the tail ; and the lateral folds of the skin are 
bounded in front and on the sides by a similar band^ 
which confounds itself gradually on the inside with the 
gray of the body and is bordered at the outer margin 
by a fringe of white. The eyes are each placed in a 
spot of black, and a faint blackish line extends along 
the upper surface of the hinder limbs. The tail is also 
of a darker hue, especially towards its extremity. 
It is an inhabitant of New South Wales, and is said 
to be particularly plentiful at the foot of the Blue 
Mountains. Its fur is extremely soft and beautiful, 
and, like that of the other species of Petaurus, is occa- 
sionally made use of by the natives to form the scanty 
covering worn by some few among the least barbarous 
of the race. Could it be obtained in sufficient quantity, 
of which from the statements regarding its abundance 
there can be little doubt, it would unquestionably fur- 
nish one of the most elegant and delicate furs with 
which we are acquainted, and might form a useful 
branch of commerce in that distant and improving 
colony. 
Another locality assigned to the Squirrel Petaurus 
is Norfolk Island. For this we know of no other au- 
thority than that which is derived from the name by 
which it was originally designated in Governor Phillip's 
Voyage to Botany Bay, that of the Norfolk Island 
Flying Squirrel. In the same Voyage appeared the 
first published figure of it ; and a good representation, 
nearly of the size of life, was soon afterwards given, 
from a living specimen then in England, in Dr. Shaw's 
Zoology of New Holland. A copy of the latter has 
been reproduced in the General Zoology of the same 
author. 
During the day the animal generally remains quietly 
