PHALANGISTA XEILLIl. 
316 
The author is indebted to Mr. Neill, Deputy-Assistant 
Commissary General at King George’s Sound, lor many 
interesting notes relating to the Marsupial animals found in 
the above mentioned part of Australia, and likewise for some 
specimens of the smaller species, preserved in spirits, which 
were forwarded with the notes. Amongst these specimens I 
find the present species of Phalanger, which 1 have taken the 
liberty of naming after its discoverer, since it decidedly differs 
from any of the hitherto described species of the group. One 
of its most remarkable features is its small size, it being 
less than either of the two pigmy species just described; and 
I should not have introduced it into the list of species, had 
I not satisfied myself, by an examination of its skull, that it 
was an adult animal, having all the true molar teeth developed. 
The specimen is a male. 
Mr. Neill states that the animal is called Jia-jat by the 
aborigines of King George’s Sound, and that it is found 
under the dead bark of trees—Eucalypti, See., and also in 
holes in trees which have been excavated by fires. “ The 
specimen sent was taken alive by my own hand, and, by dint 
of care, lived in confinement for upwards of two months, 
during which time it was fed upon sugar mixed with bread¬ 
crumbs. The general colour, when the animal was first 
caught, was a light azure grey, inclining to steel colour over 
the whole of the back, the fore legs, and the thighs 1 . The 
breast and belly were pure white, and the fore legs were 
also edged with white. 
“ When in a state of repose the ears of the little animal were 
pendant, but when startled, or in activity, they were erect: 
their colour is brownish pink : the upper half of the ear is 
thinly covered with very fine hairs, the lowerhalf (externally ?) 
1 As seen in the clear spirits, the fur on the upper parts of the body appears 
to be grey, slightly suffused with brownish, and there is an evident dark patch 
in front of the eye. 
