Macropid^.- 
-MAMMALIA. - 
-Phalaxgistid.e. 
’I'lie Tree-Kangaroo i,.DeiKlrnIngns iriiistiis). 
Dendrologiis ursinus and D. imistus — Fig. 86. Both 
have moderately well developed ears, whilst the two 
superior central incisor teeth are scarcely longer than 
the outer pair. 
THE POTOROO {Hupsiprimnus minor), or Kangaroo 
Bat — Plate 29, fig. 91 — is a gentle, timid, little animal, 
about the size of our common rabbit. It is a native of 
New South Wales, and tolerably abundant in the neigh- 
bourhood of the river Weragambia. The fur exhibits 
a greyish-brown colour generally, being reddish above 
and white underneath the belly. The ears are of large 
size ; the tail being also conspicuously developed ; 
more uniform in thickness than obtains in kangaroos 
proper, very flexible, and slightly tufted at the extre- 
mity. The fore-limbs still display much disparity when 
compared with the stout posterior pair ; the same rela- 
tion holds good in regard to the feet, the three central 
claws of the pentadactylous fore-feet being strikingly 
developed. The muzzle is so considerably attenuated 
and produced, that in the skull the nasals are seen to 
extend beyond the level of the upper jaw. This animal 
is further distingui.shed by the remarkable length of its 
anterior grinding teeth, or premolars, which are also 
sculptured by vertical groves externally ; these dental 
characteristics are also present in congeneric forms, 
several of which have been described as distinct spe- 
cies by Ogilby, Gould, and others. 
Family III.— PHALANGISTIDJU. 
The marsupials associated under this head are com- 
monly called Phalangers, and although only some of 
them exhibit highly exalted leaping powers — in virtue 
of assistance derived from a membranous expansion of 
the skin at the sides of the body — yet, on the whole, 
they form a tolerably distinct group. Among the more 
distinguishing peculiarities are those which have refer- 
ence to their partially carnivorous diet and arboreal 
habits. The disparity between the hind and fore legs 
no longer exists, whilst the posterior feet have become 
pentadactylous, the thumb remaining unarmed, and 
the second and third toes conjoined as far forward as 
the base of the claws. The teeth vary considerably in 
different genera ; thus, in the true Phalangers there are 
only eight incisors, disposed as in the kangaroos, and 
sixteen constant true molars — although occasionally we 
longer than the body. The strongly-curved and power- climbing habits. Two species have been described by 
ful claws are also rendered subservient to their arboreal M. Salomon Miiller, which he res[iectively denominates 
Fig. 88. 
