COOKS PHALANGES. 
301 
first voyage by Sir Joseph Banks, and originally described 
by Pennant, from a specimen brought home by that gentle¬ 
man 1 . During Cooks last voyage a second specimen was 
procured, and is figured in one of the plates illustrating the 
account of that voyage 2 . This second specimen was found 
at Adventure Bay, in Van Diemens Land, whilst the first 
was from Endeavour River, on the north-east coast of the 
continent of Australia. 
Subsequently specimens were brought to Europe by some 
of the French expeditions, and being recognized as the 
animal figured in Cook’s voyage, the species was named after 
our celebrated navigator — I believe originally by Geoffroy. 
More recently, Mr. OgiJby, observing that a specimen sent to 
the Zoological Society from Van Diemens Land differed in 
its size and colouring from others which he had examined, 
and which were known (some at least) to be from the main 
land, was induced to found a new species, under the name of 
P. viverrina , upon the Island specimen, retaining the name 
Cookii for the continental animal. Mr. Gray was also of 
opinion that the Van Diemens Land and the continental 
Ring-tailed Phalangers were distinct, and proposed to name 
the one, originally discovered at Endeavour River, P. Banksii, 
and that from Van Diemen’s Land, P. Cookii 3 . Mr. Gray 
has since changed his opinion, associating the Ring-tailed 
Phalangers under one specific name, and I find that Dr. 
1 See Hawkesworth’s Voyages, vol. iii. p. 586. 
2 Cook’s Third Voyage, first edition (1781), vol. i. p. 109, and PI. 8. 
3 See Annals of Natural History, vol. i. p. 107. In the same volume 
■will be found a discussion between Mr. Gray and Mr. Ogilby, relating to the 
nomenclature of these two supposed species; this discussion 1 do not think 
it necessary here to enter into, since I regard the animals as specifically 
identical. I will merely observe, that they were first separated by Mr. Ogilby, 
and that the specimens which first received the name Cookii by Geoffroy and 
Desraarest, agree in their colouring with the rufous-grey specimens of New 
South Wales. 
