LONG-SNOUTED TARSIPES. 
351 
lower extremity, but, commencing about the middle, they 
rather suddenly diverge, owing to the bending forwards of 
the shaft of the tibia, which, I may observe, is considerably 
compressed : at the proximal extremity, the fibula (which is 
unsually slender below) is suddenly expanded and flattened, 
sending out a square process posteriorly, and a smaller process 
in front to join the head of the tibia. "With respect to the 
structure of the feet, it will be sufficient to remark, that 
they resemble those of the species of Phalangista in all 
essential points. 
I have before said that the skeleton of Tarsipes bears a very great 
resemblance to that of Petaurus sciureus. In both animals 
nearly all the cervical vertebra are destitute of spinous pro¬ 
cesses 1 : the scapula is very neturly the same in both, but the 
lower posterior angle is more produced in P. sciureus , and 
the acromion process is expanded. The principal differences 
are, that in Tarsipes the bones of the limbs are propor¬ 
tionately shorter than in the Petaurus ; the lumbar vertebra, 
as well as the bones of the pelvis, are likewise shorter : the 
humerus differs in not being perforated at the lower ex¬ 
tremity, and in having the outer condyloid ridge less 
developed ; the trochanters of the femur are smaller, and 
the lesser trochanter is placed nearer to the head of the 
femur ; the tibia is more arched, and more compressed at its 
upper half, and the fibula is rather more expanded at its 
proximal extremity. In the general form of the skull 
Tarsipes is approached most nearly by the small species of 
Perameles. 
“ The Tarsipes is generally found in all situations suited to 
its existence, from Swan River to King Georges Sound, hut 
from its rarity, and the difficulty with which it is procured, 
notwithstanding the high rewards offered, the natives only 
1 The spinous processes of the cervical vertebrie are small in the Phalangers 
generally, and very small in the Petaurus australis, but I have seen no mar¬ 
supial skeleton in which they arc wanting excepting in Pctaums sciureus and 
Tarsipes. Probably in the minute species belonging to the sections Acrobata 
and Dromicia the same structure will be found. 
