; :
INTRODUCTION.
XVill
an account of the manners, habits, and economy of each,

andicoots, as they are called, and

most of these B aces in the body of the work.

: ; : ee
so far as known, will be found in their proper |
oS Cc a

e c 9 /

a WIC y e ’

S t 2 {SO) it Ee I rt OnS ¢ \ istral a fy m ast to WeSE 5
0 ist b 1t th 1 SG) t

they are, however, rather denizens of the
native |
interi of the provinces near the ¢ es i
eo . they 6 sanguinary in their disposition,—a character a : confirmed by the P. pentetllata,
| Pi aie ‘ced with killing fowls and other birds.

small as it comparatively is, being charged with killing

It might be thought that the Phascogale would naturally lead to ee oy there ' no a a
Bee cen'the two groups. I find it most difficult to arrange the oer mammals in anything like a serial
order; but the numerous species forming the genera Antechinus and Podabrus are, perhaps, as well place
here as elsewhere. Like the Peramelides, the members of those genera inhabit every part of Australia and
the adjacent islands: the thick-tailed species, forming the genus Podabrus, frequent the interior rather than
the coast; the Antechini, on the other hand, inhabit both districts ; and wherever there are trees and shrubs,
one or other of them may be found; some evince a partiality for the fallen boles lying on the ground, while

others run over the branches of those that are still standing.

I now approach a better-defined section of the Australian Marsupiata than any of the preceding—the
nocturnal Phalangers. These are divided into several genera—Phascolarctos, Petaurista, Belideus, Phalan-
gista, Cuscus, Acrobates, and Dromicia. The extraordinary Koala is only found in the brushes of New
South Wales. It stands quite alone—the solitary species of its genus, and it is well worth while to turn to
my figures and description of this anomalous Sloth among the Marsupials. The Petauriste are strictly
brush-loving animals, and are almost entirely confined to New South Wales ; some one or other of the
Beldei, on the other hand, is found in all other parts of the Australian continent (except perhaps its
western portion), wherever there are Eucalypti of sufficient magnitude for their branches to become hollow
spouts wherein these nocturnes may sleep during the day. This form also occurs among the animals of the
New Guinea group of islands. The little Opossum Mouse, 4crobates pygmeus, is a general favourite with
the colonists ; and well it may be so, for in its disposition it is as amiable as its form is elegant and its fur

soft and beautiful: what the Dormouse is to the English boy, this little animal is to the juveniles of

Australia. I have seen it kept as a pet, and its usual retreat in the day, while it sleeps, was a pill-box; as

nioht a = i ie ° ‘ se ° e: ‘ ee E ae . . . re e
ght approaches it becomes active, and then displays much elegance in its motions. The true Phalangiste

comprise many species ; and are found in e

Dawe ee sare Dail X 1

very colony, in Port Essington on the north, Swan River on the
Tae i

west, New South Wales and Queensl

and on the east, and V

ictoria and Van Diemen’s Land on the south.
They lead to the genus Cuscus, a form better re

rACA > ; New @): 7 1 1 i
presented in New Guinea and jts islands than in Australia,

: , In the neighbourhood of Cape York. Of the two fairy-like
live upon the stamens of flowe
Diemen’s Land, the other in W

where only one species has been discovered

Dromicie, which S |
rs and the nectar of their corollas, one is found in Van

estern Australia.

: The description of
been transmitted to the Zoologic
5

al Society by Mr. Krofft. w 1
discovered by hims ee ‘ y by Mr. Krefft, who States that it was taken from an example
y himself in New South Wales, and proposes to call it D unicolor

a third species of this form has just

A 1 eq a c c C disti t | Pr or » C I t J . e tra

JULIE

   

co
oN