22 
MEMO ms OF TEE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 
A NEW PHALANGER FROM NORTH 
QUEENSLAND. 
By Heber a. Longman. 
PSEUDOCHIRUS (HEMIBELIDEUS) CERVINUS, sp. nov. 
Through the kindness of Mr. E. J, Holyoake, the Queensland Museum> 
received in April last the skin of a female fawn-coloured opossum from the- 
dense scrubs of the Atherton Tableland. This differed so markedly from all 
knoMTi forms that it w'as noted as new. The sender had recognised it as a very 
rare animal, stating that residents in the district for thirty years had heard of it 
from the blacks as being very uncommon and only procurable in the one locality. 
Unfortunately, the skull of the first specimen was not available, but, in response 
to requests from the Director, Mv. Holyoake promised to do all in his power to 
obtain another. To his efforts we are now indebted for a second skin (male) and 
an accompanying skull. 
This A’-ery handsome Phalanger belongs to the subgenus Heniibelideus^ 
which Collett rightly established in 1884 for the reception of Pseudochirus 
leniuroides with its comparatively short and broad slvull.^ Externally, however, 
its general appearance is so A^ery distinct from Collett’s species that cranial 
diA^ergencies Avere also anticipated. Although these to be noted are by no means 
remarkable, it miist be remembered that Oldfield Thomas ^ and Collett have 
placed on record the striking cranial affinities of some species of Pseicdochiriis. 
and also of P. lemuroidGS itself to the so-called Plying Phalanger, Petaurus 
volanSy Kerr. 
Form and dimensions similar to P. lemuroides, but the tail is equal in 
length to both head and body. Pur long, fine, soft and silky, noAvhere adpressed, 
also long on the limbs and tail and eA^en sparsely eoA^ering tlie dorsal surface of 
the claAvs. Colour uniform fawn aboA^e, beloAv and on limbs, with the exception of 
the lumbar region, Avhich is decidedly lighter, and the liead; tlie distal portions of 
the hairs are glossy, but the proximal parts are siHer gray. Head much lighter 
from the nuchal region foinvard; throat and chest scarcely Anrying from dorsal 
colouring. Ears almost naked inside, long-haired on the posterior part of their 
hinder surfaces ; 20 mm. in length but not projecting much beyond the long fur.. 
^Collett, P.Z.S., 1884, p. 385. Collett, Zool. Jalirb., 1887, p. 923. 
^Oldfield Thomas, B.M.C. Mai’supialia, 1888, p. 185. 
