PHALANGERS. 
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molars may be termed crescent-toothed phalangers. Externally they differ from 
the preceding group by the tail being tapering, and having shorter hair on its 
terminal third and under surface than elsewhere, with the lower surface of the 
tip naked for a short distance. There is, moreover, no gland on the chest; and 
the two inner toes of the front paw are very markedly opposable to the other 
three. In addition to certain features in the skull, these phalangers are readily 
distinguished from the last by having the whole four cusps on their upper molar 
teeth distinctly crescent-shaped ; thus simulating those of the ancestors of the 
Ruminant Ungulates. 
These phalangers inhabit Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea; and are 
divided into two groups each containing five species. In the first group, as represented 
COMMON PHALANGER. 
by the Herbert River phalanger (Pseudochirus herbertensis), and the widely spread 
ring-tailed phalanger (P. peregrinus), first discovered by Captain Cook, the ears 
are of medium length, and longer than broad, while the tail is tipped with white. 
This group is confined to Australia and Tasmania. In the second group, on the 
other hand, the ears are very short, and wider than long; while, with one exception, 
the tail is not white at the tip. The exceptional species is Archer’s phalanger 
(P. archeri), of Queensland, which is the only representative of the group found 
of New Guinea. Consequently, all the Australian crescent-toothed phalangers are 
distinguished from those of Papua by their white tail-tips. 
Great Flying- The flying representatives of this family belong to three groups, 
pnaianger. severally allied to as many non-volant types. The largest of these 
forms is the great or taguan flying-phalanger (P etciiivoidcs voLcitis), of Queensland 
and Victoria, which is the sole representative of its genus, and appears indeed to 
be nothing more than a crescent-toothed phalanger which has acquired a flying- 
