THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE KANGAROO. 
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chute in their leaps, whence they are called “ flying opossums,” 
just as squirrels, similarly provided, are called “ flying” 
squirrels. 
There are two very aberrant members of this family. One, 
the koala ( Phascolarctus), called the native bear or native sloth, 
is devoid of any tail. 
The other, Tarsipes , but little bigger than a mouse, has a 
long and pointed muzzle, and its teeth are reduced to minute 
pointed processes, few in number, 5 — situated far apart in 
each jaw. 
The genus Cuscus , closely allied to Phalangista , is found in 
New Guinea and the adjacent islands to Timor (PL CXXVII1. 
fig. 3). 
Fig. 8. 
The Wombat ( PJiascolomys ). 
Another animal, the wombat ( PJiascolomys ), forms by itself 
a distinct family, Phascolomyidce . It is a burrowing noc- 
turnal animal, about the size of a badger, with rudimentary 
tail and peculiar feet and teeth. 
We still find the second and third toes bound together, limbs 
of equal length, and all the five toes of the fore foot with claws 
