PH ALAN GISTA OKI E N TA LIS. 
282 
GeofFroy, supposing the sexes of the present animal to be 
distinct species, gave to them the names rufa and alba , 
neither of which names is appropriate when applied to the 
opposite sex to that which received it; lienee it is, we pre¬ 
sume, that Temminck, in his " Monographies,” proposed the 
new name cavifrons for our animal. We think, however, he 
might, without impropriety, have restored the old name of 
orientali&y which Pallas had applied to it as early as the 
year 1766. 
The earliest notice of the Phahtngixta oricntalis is that 
of Valentyn 1 , who describes it under the name Coes-coes; 
the name by which it is known to the natives of Amboyna. 
It is described in great detail by Buffon, in the article headed 
“ Phalanger femelle 2 ;'* but this author committed an error in 
giving the Phalangistu maculata as a variety of his animal 
—an error which is copied by Scbreber, and several other 
authors. Messrs. Lesson and Gamot state, that the P. ori¬ 
ent alix (C uncus a/bus of their work) is abundant in New 
Ireland, where it is called Kapoune by the natives: that it is 
slow in its movements, and, like others of the genus, lives 
upon trees; and notwithstanding the care which the animals 
take to conceal themselves, they are discovered by a foetid 
odour which they emit. Often, in traversing the forests of 
this island, the scent of die Cuscus was distinedy perceptible 
to the authors. It is stated by Cuvier, that when the Pha- 
langers see any person, they suspend themselves by the tail, 
and, if looked at steadfastly, they will drop to the ground 
through fatigue 3 ; and Messrs. Lesson and Garnot suppose 
1 Omstandig Verhnal vnu de GeschiedcnUsen en Zanken, in Amboina, 
vol. iii. p. 272, (accompanied by a bad figure). Pol. 172G. 
3 HUt. Nat. xii. p. 108, PI. 10. 
I find « similar statement in the work of Valentyn, already alluded to, 
whence Cuvier probably learned the fact. Possibly the Chxcus may have some 
kind of instinct allied to that of the North American Opossum, which induces 
it to feign death when in danger. 
