THE KOALA. 
201 
feeding at ease, or sleeping. In the night it descends and 
prowls about, scratching up the ground in search of some 
particular roots; it seems to creep rather than walk : when 
incensed or angry, it utters a long shrill yell, and assumes 
a fierce and menacing look. They are found in pairs, and 
the youug is carried by the mother on its shoulders. This 
animal appears soon to form an attachment to the person 
who feeds it." 
I leani from Mr. Gould, that, unlike most quadrupeds, the 
Koala does not fly upon the approach of man; that it is 
very tenacious of life, and when even severely wounded it 
will not quit its hold of the branch upon which it may be at 
the time. It has been frequently compared to the bear in its 
movements and mode of climbing; and, indeed, in appear¬ 
ance the animal is not unlike a small bear. 
The Koala is usually about two feet in length, and when 
on all fours stands 10 or 11 inches in height: the girth of the 
body is about 18 inches. Its limbs are of moderate length, 
and powerful; the hands and feet large, and admirably 
adapted by their structure to tree-climbing habits. The toes 
of the fore feet are so arranged, that the two innermost of 
the five are opposed to the other three ; and all the toes, both 
of the fore and hind feet (if we except the innermost one of 
the lutter), are provided with large, curved, very deep, and 
compressed claws. The innermost toe of the hind feet is 
large, nailless, assumes the form of a thumb, and is used as 
such, being opposed to the toes in grasping, as is the thumb 
of the human hand to the fingers. The head is rather large, 
the muzzle short, and nearly naked both at the sides and on 
the upper surface, these parts being merely clothed (and 
rather sparingly so) with small vclvet-like hairs: the part thus 
sparingly clothed is most extended on the upper surface of 
the muzzle, here reaching back, about one inch and a half. 
