wombats. 
109 
as for example the Pigmy Flying Phalanger, the Flying 
Squirrel of the Colonists, Acrobates pygmccus ( 1441 ), to others 
larger than a Cat, such as the Native Bear, or Koala, Pliasco- 
larctus cinereus ( 1414 ). Skeletons are exhibited of the hitter 
animal, of a Cuscus, Plialanger maculatiis, and of a Flying 
Phalanger, Petaurus sc'iareus ( 1437 ). 
Of the more noticeable types, the following may be men- 
tioned : — 
The Shrew-like Tarsipes rostratus ( 1446 ), a little long-nosed 
animal with an extensile tongue, and three distinct stripes 
down its back, which feeds on insects and honey, and is confined 
to Western Australia. 
Australian Opossums, or true Phalangers, Trichosurus ( 1442 ); [Case 
Cat-like animals, with thick fur and long bushy tails ; the 
finely-marked Striped TliAangei\ Padglopsila tricirgata ( 1435 ), 
of New Guinea; the Dormouse-Phalangers, Promicia ( 1439 ); 
the larger Moluccan Cuscuses, Phalanger ( 1429 , 1430 ): and, 
finally, the Flying-Phalangers, or Australian Flying-Squirrels, 
Petaurus ( 1436 ), which, like true Flying-Squirrels, have a 
lateral extension of the skin of the body, forming a parachute. 
The Native Bear, or Koala, Phascolarctus cinereus ( 1414 ), is 
a curious species, somewhat similar in its general appearance 
to a little Bear, but a vegetable-feeder, living chiefly on the 
leaves of gum-trees. It is of a harmless and peaceable dis- 
position, of about the same size as a Wombat, wdth long ashy- 
grey hair, tufted ears, no tail, and five toes on each of its feet. 
It is related both to Phalangers and Wombats. 
Wombats, P hascolomyidce (1393 to 1395 , fig. 59), are rather [Case 
clumsily-built animals, somewhat resembling Marmots in general 
form, with a short, rounded head, short ears, scarcely any tail, 
and long powerful claws with which they dig their burrows. 
There are four species, very similar externally, distributed over 
the whole of Australia and Tasmania, and living on roots and 
other vegetable food. They often exceed 100 lb. in weight, 
and are valued as food. 
W^ ombats are the only Marsupials with rootless teeth and an 
equal number of incisors in each jaw, their dentition being 
