280 
PHALANGISTA VOLPINA. 
Lines. 
Inches. 
Length from the tip of the nose to the root 
of the tail 
18 
0 
<( 
of tail ... ... . 
13 
0 
<« 
from tip of nose to ear ... 
3 
2 
«< 
of ear 
1 
11 
tt 
of tarsus (claws not included) ... 
2 
7 
a 
of fore-foot, without the claws 
1 
11 
The foregoing description is token from a female Vulpine 
Phalonger in the Museum of tlie Zoological Society, and will 
agree pretty closely with most of the specimens which I have 
seen from the continent of Australia ; I have notes, however, 
of some variations in the colouring of specimens from the 
main land, which I shall briefly notice. 
Var. 1. — This differs from the specimen just described in having 
the sides of the body chiefly of a bright rusty red hue, and 
the same reddish tint is observable on the back, though less 
distinct, the hairs of the fur on this part being reddish below 
the point, white near the point, and black at the apex : the 
cheeks and under parts of the animal are of a yellow colour; 
the feet yellowish white, hut the outer side of the tarsus is 
blackish.— From South Australia. Mus. Zool. Soc. 
I ar . 2.— Resembles the last, and is from the same quarter, hut 
differs in the rusty hue being paler, and in having the cheeks 
and feet suffused with a rich brown colour.—Mus. Zool. Soc. 
In the British Museum are specimens from the neighbour¬ 
hood of the River Nammoy, and from that of the Yaroundi, 
agreeing almost perfectly witli my first description. The 
same might almost be said of a specimen from Perth, but in 
this specimen the under parts of the body are almost of a pure 
white, the ears are grey at the baso externullv, where usually 
black or dusky; and the rusty chest mark is absent. With 
regard to the chest mark 1 must observe, that it varies much 
