SQUIRREL OPOSSUM. 499 
whole under side of the animal is milk-white : the 
upper parts of the feet are also white, and the 
edge of the lateral or flying membrane, which 
extends from the fore feet to the hind, is edged 
with a blackish border, as in the flying squirrels. 
The abdominal pouch is of considerable size, and 
is situated as in other Opossums, on the lower 
part of the abdomen : the hind feet are furnished 
with a rounded, unarmed, or mutic thumb. No- 
thing can exceed the softness and delicacy of this 
animal's fur, which is, if possible, still finer than 
that of the Petaurus, to which indeed, though 
very greatly inferior in size, as well as widely dif- 
ferent in colour, it yet bears a striking affinity. 
It is a nocturnal animal, and continues torpid 
the greatest part of the day, but during the 
night is full of activity. In this, as well as 
in other Australian Opossums, the two toes on 
the hind feet nearest the thumb or rounded one, 
are connate, or both conjoined under one com- 
mon skin. 
Some of this species were brought over a few 
years since, and lived a considerable time: the 
beautiful representation given in the third number 
of the work intituled Zoology of New Holland, was 
drawn from one in the possession of T. Wilson, Esq. 
to whom it was presented by Mr. White, chief sur 
geon to the English settlement in New Holland. 
Mr. Pennant, in the last edition of his History 
of Quadrupeds, appears, through some oversight, 
to have described it as a Squirrel, under the name 
of the Norfolk-Isle Squirrel. In all probability 
