312 
PHALANGISTA NANA. 
Tlie ears in till the specimens were partially folded, the 
apjcal portion lopping over. An excellent figure of the 
present animal, made from life, will he found in Mr. Gould’s 
Mammals of Australia. 
The habits of the Phalangista nana , Mr. Gould observes, 
“ are extremely like those of theDonnouse, feeding on nuts and 
other similar food, which they hold in their fore paws, using 
them as hands. They arc nocturnal, remaining asleep during 
the whole day, or, if disturbed, not easily roused to a state of 
activity ; and coming forth late in the evening, and then 
assuming their natural rapid and vivacious habits, they run 
about a small tree, which is placed in their cage, using their 
paws to hold by the branches, and assisting themselves by 
their prehensile tail, which is always held in readiness to 
support them, especially when in a descending attitude. 
Sometimes the tail is thrown in the reverse direction, turned 
over the back, and at other times, when the weather is cold, 
it is rolled closely up towards the under part, and coiled 
almost between the thighs. When eating, they sit upon 
their hind quarters, holding the food in their fore paws, 
which, with the face, are the only parts apparently standing 
out from the ball of fur. of which the body seems at that time 
to be composed. They are perfectly harmless and tame, 
permitting any one to hold and caress them, without even 
attempting to bite, but do not evince the least attachment, 
either to persons about them, or even to each other/' 
Mr. Gould states that the Dromicia gliriformis is more 
particularly abundant in the northern portions of Van Diemen’s 
Land; that of all trees it appears to prefer the Banksios, 
whose numerous blossoms supply it with a never-ceasing 
store of food, both of insects and sweets During the day 
it generally slumbers, coiled up, in some hollow branch or 
fissure in the trees. That gentleman has observed, that during 
the months of winter it is less active, undergoing, in fact, a 
