DESCRIPTION of a RING-TAILED OPOSSUM, 
REGARDED AS A VARIETY OF 
PSEUDOCIIIRUS HERDER TENS IS, COLLETT. 
By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist. 
Having recently had occasion to overhaul our duplicate collection 
of Marsupials, my attention was arrested by a number of specimens 
labelled Pseudochirus herbertensis . Out of twenty-two examples, 
seventeen were undoubtedly of this species, but the remainder 
presented some differences, I therefore consulted Mr. Robert 
Grant, by whom the Herbert River animals were procured. 
Unhesitatingly picking out the five forms I had marked, he told 
me that he was convinced that they were quite distinct from the 
“Outas” (P. herbertensis ), and had so reported when unpacking 
the collection in 1889. 
The following notes are supplied to mo by Mr. Grant; — 
Although found in the same district as P. herbertensis and P . 
lemuroides ) the smaller and much rarer animal was obtained 
within a comparatively limited area, the exact locality being 
known as the Boar Pocket, on the Tinaroo track, near Cairns, 
Queensland (or, in the language of the blacks, “ Warnarama Riga- 
rami”). This spot lies low, and is swampy. P . herbertensis , although 
obtained on the outskirts of the swamp, is an inhabitant of the 
higher land and ascends to the tops of tallest trees, while the 
swamp animal is not a high climber, and several of them were 
found in the Davidsonia plum tree ( D . pruriens , F. v. M.) 
Another interesting fact is that this animal builds a nest or drey 
not unlike that of the common Ring-tailed Opossum (P.peregrinus), 
but more ball-like in shape. In passing it may be mentioned that 
this latter species generally builds its nest near to creeks or in moist 
gullies. P. herbertensis never builds a nest, so the natives say. 
Tke blacks instantly recognised the animal as distinct and 
called it “Moki poki.” Mr. Grant would throw upon the ground 
a few examples of P. herbertensis , which the blacks would at once 
name “ Outa.” One of the swamp forms would next be cast down, 
when they would laugh and remark, “No more 4 Outa/ — 4 Moki 
poki.’ ” 
Although smaller than the “Outa,” the animals obtained were 
fully adult, as our collector took young ones from the pouches of 
the females. 
A 
