Marsu­pialia or Pouched Animals

Introduction

This volume is devoted to the consideration of a group of quadrupeds or Mammalia, most of the species of which are commonly known either by the name of Opossum or Kangaroo. The first discovered species of this group were found in America, and are described by the earlier English authors, under the former of these names; subsequently other animals were found in certain islands of the Indian Archipelago, and in Australia, which having some characters in common with the Oppossums of America, were placed in the same group, and described under the original title of Didelphis,¹ given by Linnæus to the American Opossum. This name was suggested by one of the most remarkable characters which these animals exhibit, viz.: the possession, in the female, of a pouch or fold of skin on the abdomen, in which the young are carried.

The term marsupiata, or marsupialia, (from marsupium, a purse or bag,) now usually applied to this group of animals, has reference to the same character. They were likewise termed animalia crumentaria, or purse-bearing-animals, by Scaliger. The voyages of Cook made us acquainted with that most interesting animal, the Kangaroo, and some other species of Marsupial animals; and we are indebted to Governor Phillip² and White,³ for several interesting additions. Tolerably good figures illustrate the descriptions in the works of both these authors. The specimens collected in White’s voyage were described by John Hunter, to whom we are indebted for the first account of the dentition of many of these animals.

It is remarkable that Dr. Shaw, with these materials before him, did not avail himself of them in his systematic work,⁴ either to modify his definition of the genus Didelphys, or to separate from it such species as would not agree with the characters given by himself at the commencement of the group. He appeared to be, in most instances, satisfied with copying out the accounts of others. The credit is due to him, however, for the separation of the Kangaroos from the other Marsupial forms, and applying to them the generic title Macropus. Two other genera were founded by him; one upon a species of flying Opossum, and the other on the Ornithorhynchus, to which he applied the name Platypus anatinus.⁵ Another extraordinary animal, closely allied to the last, the Echidna, was also first described by him. The Marsupiata, however, were left in a great state of confusion by Shaw, species of different groups being confounded, and the same animal in some cases placed in different orders. It is to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire that we are indebted for a revision of the group, and for the first clear definitions of many of the genera. His papers on this subject will be found in the earlier volumes of the “Annales du Museum;”—here he characterizes the genera Dasyurus, Perameles, and Phascolomys; and subsequently, Illiger, Cuvier, De Blainville, Temminck, and others, have extended the number of the genera. To the last of these authors we are indebted for some excellent monographs on the genera Didelphys, Dasyurus, and Phalangista.⁶

Nearly all the principal forms as yet discovered in the Marsupiata were known as early as the beginning of the present century; or, I may say at the end of the past century, types of but three genera Lipurus (or Phascolacrtos), Myrmecobius and Chæropus—having been added since that time. The number of species, however, has been greatly augmented, and much additional information relating to those already described by the earlier authors, has been published—Anatomists have aided the Zoologist in determining the relations of the Marsupial animals to other orders of Mammalia, and their affinities with each other; among others may be mentioned John Hunter, Sir E. Home, Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, G. Cuvier, Meckel, De Blainville, Morgan, Owen, Martin and Laurent.

It has been stated that the first discovered species of Marsupiata were those of America, and that subsequently species have been found in Australia, and in some of the islands of the Indian Archipelago: it must be observed, however, that Australia is the great metropolis of these animals; in America there exists many species, but they all belong to one genus Didelphys;⁷ of these species one is common in the United States of North America, four or five inhabit Mexico, and the remainder are found in South America,⁸ where they are known to extend as far south, on the eastern side of the continent, as Maldonado, and one species was discovered by Mr. Darwin on the opposite side of the Cordilleras, at Valparaiso.

In the Indian Archipelago, the Marsupial animals abound most in New Guinea, where it appears⁹ that no less than seven species¹⁰ (affording examples of the genera Phascogale, Perameles, Hypsiprymuus Dendrolagus, Phalangista and Petaurus,) have already been founds, although as yet we do not know even the precise boundary of the island. In the islands Celebes, Amboina, Banda, and Timor, there are also Marsupial animals; they all, however, belong to one genus—Phalangista, and, what is interesting, they appertain to a section of this genus, examples of which have not yet been found on the continent of Australia. As yet but one species has occurred in Celebes, the Phalangista ursina, and that appears to be confined to the island: in Amboina three species have been found Phal. chrysorrhos, P. maculata, and P. cavifrons; the two last have also been found in Banda, a small island adjoining Amboina, and one of them, the P. cavifrons, is stated to be an inhabitant likewise of the island Timor. The large islands, Java, Sumatra and Borneo, afford no examples of the Marsupiata, at least we possess no well authenticated instance of the occurrence, in a state of freedom, of any species in those islands.

Little as we yet know of Australia, upwards of 70 species of Marsupiata have been already discovered in that country; and when to these we add about eighteen species of Quadrupeds belonging to other groups, it would appear that this continent has a rich Mammalian fauna. Besides the native Dog, (which it is supposed may have been introduced into Australia with man,) and certain species of Seals and Bats, the whole of the remaining placental Quadrupeds found in Australia belong to the order Rodentia, and to one particular group of this order—the Muridæ¹¹ or Rat-tribe.

The above remarks refer only to recent species. At former periods we have evidence that animals belonging to the Marsupiata had a much wider range—in fact they inhabited Europe as well as Australia and South America.

Cuvier has referred the remains of a small quadruped, found in the Montmartre Gypsum, to the genus Didelphys;¹² and he moreover gave it as his opinion, that the ramus of a lower jaw, found in the Stonesfield oolite, belonged to an animal allied to the Opossum. M. De Blainville has recently expressed his doubts as regards the accuracy of this determination,¹³ in consequence of which, Mr. Owen read two papers before the Geological Society,¹⁴ answering the objections of that naturalist, and describing in detail the characters, not only of the fossil examined by Cuvier, but likewise of some others since discovered also at Stonesfield. These remains consist of two portions of the lower jaw of an animal to which Mr. Owen applied the name Thylacotherium Prevostii, and a ramus of a lower jaw differing from these, on which he founds his genus Phaleolotherium, using for the species the name Bucklandi, originally given by Mr. Broderip in his paper on the fragment published in the third volume of the Zoological Journal. The Stonesfield fossils under consideration, in the opinion of Mr. Owen, furnish the types of two new genera of Marsupial animals intermediate between the existing Sarcophagous and Entomoenophagous groups. The Phascolotherium

presents the same numerical dental formula, apparently, as in the Thylacinus and Phascogale; but, if another incisor existed in each ramus of the lower jaw, as seems to be indicated by the fossil, then the dentition will agree with that of the genus Didelphys. Incisors, \(\frac{?\ \cdot\ ?}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\) or 4 • 4; canines, \(\frac{?\ \cdot\ ?}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); praemolares, \(\frac{?\ \cdot\ ?}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); molares, \(\frac{?\ \cdot\ ?}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\).

The incisors and canines are separated by vacant interspaces, and occupy a large proportion of the dental series: the true molares resemble those of Thylacinus. The Thylacotherium

presents eleven molars on each side of the lower jaw, which resemble, in structure and close arrangement, those of Phascogale and Didelphys, while they are intermediate in their proportional size to these and Myrmecobius. The exact condition of the incisors and canines of the Thylacotherium has not yet been displayed in the fossil jaws which have been discovered.¹⁵

Besides the Stonesfield fossils alluded to, and those of the Paris Plaster, Mr. Charlesworth¹⁶ refers a certain fragment found in the London clay, near Woodbridge, in Suffolk, to the Marsupiata. This fragment consists of a portion of the right ramus of a lower jaw containing one false molar tooth. Mr. Charlesworth observes,

that the tooth in its symmetrical form, united with the indication of an anterior and posterior heel or talon, does not agree with any species of Didelph with which I have as yet been able to compare it; but I think no doubt can be entertained of the generic or family affinities indicated by the character which it exhibits.

Mr. Owen, in a paper¹⁷ on the same fragment, regards the reference of this fragment to the genus Didelphys as premature, though it bears so close a resemblance to the corresponding part of the Opossum, as, in his opinion, to warrant the expectation, that subsequent discoveries may prove the differences which exist to be merely specific.

The fossil Marsupial remains of South America, it would appear, as well as those of Australia, exhibit the same types of form as those which at present inhabit those regions. Dr. Lund, in his “Survey or Sketch of the extinct species of Mammalia, which inhabited the highlands of tropical Brazil previously to the last Geological revolution”¹⁸ observes, relating to the Marsupiata,

of this family there is only a single existing genus in this district; it is, however, tolerably abundant in species. These admit of two subdivisions according to their size one comprising the larger species, which, both in habits and magnitude, may be compared to our martens and polecats; the other, the smaller, that scarcely exceed in size our mice and rats. I am acquainted with two species in the first division, Didelphys aurita,¹⁹ Pr. Max., and D. albiventer, Waterh.; and three in the latter, D. murina, Linn., D. brachyura. Pall., and D. pusilla, Desm. I find fossil remains of species belonging to both these divisions, which, for the present, I shall refer to two species.

These remains were discovered by Dr. Lund, in certain caves

which occur in the calcareous rocks that traverse in various directions the interior highlands of Brazil.

The following fossil remains were discovered by Major Mitchell in the caves of Wellington valley and Buree, (Southern Australia,) and are described in his work²⁰ by Mr. Owen:—

1. Dasyurus laniarius, Owen.—An extinct species about one-third larger than D. ursitius, which it closely resembles. The canines are proportionately larger.
2. Phalangista.—Species undetermined, but apparently allied to P. vulpina.
3. Hypsiprymnus.—Species also undetermined.
4. Macropus Atlas, Owen.—A species of Kangaroo at least one-third larger than Macropus major.
5. Macropus Titan, Owen.—As large as the preceding, but differing chiefly in the smaller size of the permanent spurious molar, which, in this respect, more nearly corresponds with the existing Macropus major.
6. Macropus.—Undetermined species.
7. Halmaturus.—Undetermined species.
8. Phalcolomys Mitchellii, Owen.—This species is apparently a little larger than the recent species.
9. Diprotodon, Owen.—A new genus founded on the anterior extremity of the right ramus of the lower jaw, with a single large procumbent incisor, which resembles the corresponding tooth in the Wombat, both in its position and enamelled structure and portion; it differs, however, in the quadrilateral figure of its transverse section, in which it corresponds to the inferior incisors of the hippopotamus.

It appears from the examination of these fossils from Australia, that they are not referable to any known extra-Australian genera, nor are they referable, from the present evidence, to any existing species of Australian Mammalia,—the greater number certainly belonging to species either extinct or as yet not discovered.

---

Classification of the Marsitpiata.—The Marsupiata, known to Linnæus, are placed by him between the Carnivora and Insectivora,—that is to say, the genus Didelphys in the 12th edition of the Systema Naturæ, is placed between the Linnæan genera Ursus and Talpa. Cuvier, in his Règne Animal, published in 1817, observes, as regards this class,

that the Marsupials, which we arrange at the end of the Carnassières as a fourth family of that great order, might almost be separated as a distinct order, so many peculiarities do they exhibit in their economy. * * * * One might, in fact, say that the Marsupiata formed a distinct class, parallel to that of ordinary quadrupeds, and, like them, might be divided into orders.

In the last edition of the Règne Animal, which made its appearance in 1829, we find this group separated as a distinct order, and placed between the Carnivora and Rodentia.²¹

De Blainville, in his work entitled “De l’Organisation des Animaux” divides the class Mammalia into two sub-classes,—the first, “Monodelphes,” contains all the ordinary placental quadrupeds, and the second, “Didelphes” is composed of the Marsupiata. The “Didelphes” are thus sub-divided:—

• Didelphes
  {
  • Normal
    {
    • Didelphidæ
    • Phalangistidæ
      {
      • Carnivorous
      • Rodent
  • Abnormal
    {
    • Echidna
    • Ornithorhynchus
      {
      • Burrowing
      • Swimming

This classification was published in 1822; but some years afterwards, (in the Cours de la Faculte des Sciences, 1834,) he separated the Echidna and Ornithorhynchus from the Marsupiata, or “Didelphes,” and formed with them a third sub-class, to which he gave the name Ornithodelphes.

Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire regarded the Marsupial animals as constituting a distinct group, which, like Cuvier, he placed between the Carnivora and Rodentia; indeed, this situation for the animals in question was originally suggested by Geoffroy.²²

The most recent classification of the present group is that of Professor Owen, communicated to the Zoological Society in January 1839, and published, in abstract, in that Society’s proceedings, (Part vii., p. 5.)

The following is a tabular view of this Anatomist’s distribution of the various groups of which the Marsupiata is composed.

Thus four, celebrated Anatomists and Zoologists, Cuvier, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, De Blainville, and Owen, agree in regarding the Marsupiata as a distinct group of Mammalia; there are, however, several Zoologists who regard the section Marsupiata as an unnatural one, and arrange the species of that group in the various other orders of quadrupeds. Among others, may be mentioned Storr, Illiger, F. Cuvier, Bennett,²³ Swainson, and Ogillby.

The reasons which Mr. Swainson adduces in favour of his views, I will give in his own words. Mr. Swainson says,²⁴

It may be expedient to advert to those considerations, which have induced us to separate the Carnivorous Marsupials, from those which are herbivorous, and thereby to break up the order Marsupiata of the Règne animal. Nearly all our leading naturalists have acknowledged the artificial nature of this assemblage, uniting as it does animals of the most opposite natures, and of the most dissimilar organization, merely from the circumstance of their possessing a marsupial pouch. Upon what reasons M. Cuvier, by instituting this order, was induced to violate the very first principles of his own arrangement—which every one sees is mainly founded upon the structure of the teeth—we know not: but this single circumstance is sufficient to excite the strongest suspicion that his arrangement is not natural. This, at least, was the conclusion at which we arrived after the most careful investigation we could give the subject, and after endeavouring in vain to discover a circular series among the Marsupial Animals.

Mr. Bennett’s²⁵ opinion is next quoted, that author having strongly expressed his belief that the Marsupalia do not form a natural group. Mr. Bennett observes,

When we see that the single peculiarity that unites them, is bestowed upon types of form so widely different from each other, we cannot consider this simple metastasis of junction in a certain set of organs alone, however great the importance of that function in the animal economy, as furnishing sufficient ground for the overthrow of every principle of classification, and for setting at nought some of the most strongly marked affinities that the animal kingdom affords.

In the classification of Illiger, the greater portion of the Marsupiata are thrown together, and constitute the sixth family of his order Pollicata; but the Kangaroos and Hypsprymni are separated from the rest, and form a family by themselves, to which he applies the name Salientia.

By Storr, those Marsupial animals, which have a distinct opposable thumb—the true Opossums and Phalangers—are placed near the Quadrumana, and form the third division of a great group, the first of the divisions consisting of the genus Homo, and the second being composed of the Monkeys and Lemurs.

Mr. Ogilby,²⁶ also considering the presence of an opposable thumb of primary importance, places the Opossums and Phalangers in the same group with the Quadrumana and Bimana, giving to the group the name of Cheiropoda, and dividing it as follows:—

• Cheiropoda. Mammals with opposable thumbs
  {
  • Bimana. on the anterior extremities only
    {
    • Homo
  • Quadrumana. on both anterior and posterior extremities
    {
    • Simiæ. and with anthropoid teeth.
    • Lemuridæ. and with abnormal teeth.
  • Pedimana. on the posterior extremities only.
    {
    • Simiadæ. and with anthropoid teeth.
    • Gliridæ. and with rodent teeth.
    • Didelphidæ. and with abnormal teeth.

The arrangement adopted in this work, and that which I originally published, in 1838, in the Catalogue of the Mammalia preserved in the Museum of the Zoological Society, is as follows:—

• • Families
  • Genera
  • Sub-genera
• Order
  Marsupiata
  {
  • Didelphidæ
    {
    • Didelphys
      {
      • Cheronectes
  • Dasyuridæ
    {
    • Thylacinus
    • Dasyurus
    • Phascogale
  • Myrmecobiidæ
    {
    • Myrmecobius
  • Peramelidæ
    {
    • Perameles
    • Chæropus
  • Macropodidæ
    {
    • Macropus
    • Hypsiprymnus
  • Phalangistidæ
    {
    • Phalangista
      {
      • Cuscus
      • Pseudocheirus
    • Petaurus
      {
      • Belidea
      • Acrobata
    • Phasocolarctus
  • Phascolomyidæ
    {
    • Phascolomys
  • Monotremata
    {
    • Echidna
    • Ornithorhynchus

In analyzing the Marsupiata, with a view to determine with which group to commence the order, I was anxious to select a genus, the species of which would exhibit the most perfect dentition, and at the same time present other characters which are common in the species of that order. These characters I found combined, in the most perfect manner, in the true Opossums (Didelphys)—they possess the greatest number of teeth, (if we except the extraordinary abnormal dentition of Myrmecobius,) a well developed thumb to the posterior extremities, their limbs are fitted either for climbing or walking, and their tail is muscular, and capable of being used as an organ of prehension.²⁷ In addition to these normal characters, I learn, from Professor Owen’s paper, that nearly the whole of the Marsupiata are provided with an intestinum cæcum, and in this respect the true Opossums may still be regarded as affording a good typical representation of the order. I may, moreover, observe that, as a general rule, animals of omnivorous or fugivorous diet are higher, in their own order, in the grade of organization, than either the carnivorous, insectivorous, or herbivorous species. Again, it is well known that the Opossums²⁸ are sometimes destitute of the abdominal pouch,²⁹ and I cannot help regarding the absence of this organ (in conjunction with the other points alluded to) as indicative of an approach, in these animals, to the higher orders.

I have mentioned these, my principal reasons, for placing the genus Didelphys at the head of the Marsupiata, because I regard the situation of this South American group, as one of the most important disagreements between my classification and that of Professor Owen.

Having determined to place the genus Didelphys at the head of the order, my next object was to arrange the remaining groups near to, or remote from this typical genus, as they might approach or recede from that group.

In the Dasyuri, I found the dentition³⁰ and the form of the skull almost identical with that of the Opossums, and in the smaller species the similarity in the external characters of these groups renders it difficult to distinguish them. It might be said that the Opossums have a prehensile tail, whereas in the Dasyuri the tail is not prehensile; but I may remark that in some of the small Opossums (Didelphys brachyura, &c.) the prehensile character of the tail is almost lost: for these reasons I have placed the Dasyuri next the Opossums. The genus Myrmecobius in most of its characters is intermediate between Perameles and Phascogale; whilst Perameles appears to unite the characters of carnivorous and herbivorous species. Its dentition in many respects presents an intermediate structure, but perhaps approaches a little more nearly to the carnivorous type; its limbs, however, most nearly resemble those of the Kangaroos, and these latter animals are still more perfectly united to the Perameles, by means of the Kangaroo-rats, or Hypsiprymni, which are provided with small canines. These considerations induce me to place the Macropodidæ after the Peramelidæ, but in so doing, I cannot blind myself to the fact, that some of the Phalangistidæ, especially the Phalangista nana, also evince a very close approach to the small Dasyuri in the general structure of their teeth. I am not surprised, therefore, that many naturalists place them before the Macropodidæ. In short, the Phalangers and Kangaroos are, in my opinion, so closely allied, that I think they might with propriety be regarded as the arboreal and terrestrial divisions of the same larger section, and, moreover, both these groups appear to be, as above stated, closely allied to the Dasyuoridæ; hence I arrive at the conclusion, that the mutual affinities of the species of the present group of animals cannot be expressed by arranging them in linear series, and a similar conclusion has been the result of my endeavours to classify other groups.

In the foregoing account of the various classifications of the Marsupial animals proposed by different authors, it is evident that Mr. Swainson is in error, in stating that

nearly all our leading naturalists have acknowledged the artificial nature of the assemblage;

but I think we mighty on the other hand, say, with safety, that all the most eminent anatomists (these being at the same time zoologists) agree in uniting them—at least all who have written on the subject, and who have had the necessary materials for forming a just opinion. I could wish, however, that this important question should not rest upon authority; but to go through the train of reasoning, by which the anatomists have arrived at their conclusions, would require more space than can be spared in a volume like the present one, and, moreover, would not be suited to a popular work.

It has often been stated that the Marsupiata consist of animals of most dissimilar organization, and are united together only by a single peculiarity whatever little weight some zoologists may attach to this single peculiarity, its value was almost immediately appreciated by the anatomists and physiologists. But I will now proceed to show that the animals under consideration are united by many peculiarities—these serving to distinguish them from all other quadrupeds, whilst the rich collections now in the British Museum, and in that of the Zoological Society, show that the most dissimilar forms of Marsupial animals are closely linked together by species exhibiting the intermediate grades of structure.

The most striking peculiarity in the Marsupial animals consists in the premature birth of their young, and consequently the imperfect state of development which they present at this period—compared with other Mammalia. The young of the great Kangaroo, (Macropus major,) which Professor Owen examined twelve hours after birth,

resembled an earthworm in the colour and semi-transparency of its integument, adhered firmly to the point of the nipple, breathed strongly but slowly, and moved its fore legs when disturbed. Its body was bent upon the abdomen, its short tail tucked in between the hind legs, which were one third shorter than the fore legs, but with the three divisions of the toes now distinct. The whole length, from the nose to the end of the tail, when stretched out, did not exceed 1 inch 2 lines.³¹

Four days after the birth of the young Kangaroo, Professor Owen, being anxious to decide the nature of the connection between it and the nipple, and to ascertain whether so small a fœtus would manifest the powers of a voluntary agent in regaining the nipples, detached it, and, after two days, upon again examining the pouch, he found it empty—every portion of the litter was carefully searched, in the hopes of finding the fœtus, but without success—the mother, therefore, owing to the disturbance of the young one, had probably destroyed it. A similar experiment was tried by Mr. Morgan,³² on a fœtus about the size of a Norway Rat, which after two hours’ separation from the nipple, regained its hold, and sustained no injury from the interruption of the supply of nourishment.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Zoological Society, and read before the Scientific Meeting on the 14th July 1840, Sir Robert Heron states that a young Kangaroo had by some accident got out of the pouch of its mother before the proper time, and some hours having elapsed before he could find his keeper, the little animal, which was quite naked, was scarcely alive when he arrived—the keeper however took it home, gave it milk, and by careful treatment, it quite recovered; it was then restored to the pouch, where it had remained five days, at the time that a second letter from Sir R. Heron announced the fact to the Society, and appeared perfectly well.

Mr. Collie³³ describes the young of a species of Kangaroo (probably that described in this work under the name of Derbianus,) which he saw at Buache, or Garden Island, Western Australia, as being

nearly the size of the last and half the middle joint of one’s little finger; its integuments of a flesh colour, and so transparent as to permit the higher coloured vessels and viscera to shine through them.

This little fœtus Mr. Collie detached from the nipple, and shortly afterwards he placed the extremity of the teat close to its mouth, and having held it there for a short time without perceiving any decided effort on the part of the young animal to regain its hold, he allowed the pouch to close.

An hour afterwards the young was observed still unattached, but in two hours it had hold of the teat, and was actively employed sucking.³⁴

An animal so little advanced as the young Marsupial at the time of its birth, requiring a constant supply of food, and so ill fitted to bear the exposure which the more advanced young of other animals are subject to, must, it would appear, perish, unless some peculiar provision for their safety were substituted, and in the Marsupium or pouch, we find such a provision. This pouch, when the animal is very young, has its orifice closed, and as it were glued to the body of the parent, by a peculiar secretion. When the young animal is more advanced, this secretion disappears, and the young frequently leave the pouch to return at will; they do not entirely quit the pouch until they have attained a large size—that is, compared with the parent.

Closely connected with the pouch, and with the generation of the animals of the present group, are the Marsupial bones, which so peculiarly characterize it. These bones are even more constant than the pouch, being found in the Echidna and Ornithorhynchus, in which no traces of a pouch have been discovered. They are elongated and flattened, widely separated at their distal extremity, and converge as they approach the pubis, to which they are joined.

The Marsupial bones, which are found in both sexes of the Marsupial animals, are relatively longest, straightest, and most slender in the Perameles flattest, broadest, and most curved in the Koala,—sometimes, as in the Wombat, they are articulated to the pubis, by two points. They are always so long, that the cremaster muscle winds round them.³⁵

In the various memoirs on the anatomy of the Marsupialia, published by Professor Owen, who has particularly devoted his attention to the study of these animals, he has constantly found it necessary, in his comparisons, to refer to the oviparous classes of vertebrata. This author says,—

Both sexes in the Marsupial genera manifest their affinity to the oviparous classes, in possessing two superior venæ cavæ, and in the want of the inferior mesenteric artery: and the Marsupial bones, so common in the skeletons of reptiles, are limited in the mammiferous class to this division, in which alone, from the peculiarly brief period of uterine gestation, and the consequent non-enlargement of the abdomen, their presence might be expected. But these bones serve important purposes, in relation to the generative economy of the Marsupiata. In the female they assist in producing a compression of the mammary gland, necessary for the alimentation of a peculiarly feeble offspring, and they defend the abdominal viscera from the pressure of the young, as these increase in size, during their mammary or marsupial existence, and still more when they afterwards return to the pouch for temporary shelter.³⁶

The author next proceeds to point out the uses of these bones in the males, which, I may observe, have peculiarities corresponding to the pouch in the female.³⁷

It is in the Mammalia that the brain is perfected;

we can trace through the different orders the increasing complication of this organ, until we find it in man to have attained that condition which so eminently distinguishes him from the rest of the class. And if the introduction of new powers into an organism, necessarily requires a modification in its mode of development, with what other than the perfection of the nervous system can we connect true viviparous or placental generation? for we do not perceive that in their digestion, circulation, respiration, locomotion, or temperature, the mammiferous vertebrata are in any degree advanced beyond the bird, in consequence of their more complex, or, as it may be termed, more careful generation.³⁸

Agreeably to this view, connected with the ovoviviparous generation of the Marsupiata, and with an inferiority of intelligence, which Professor Owen observed in these animals when in confinement, he was induced to undertake a careful examination of the brain, in the various Marsupial animals, and the result of this investigation was a most interesting discovery. Besides the decreased size of the hemispheres of the brain, and consequent exposure of the cerebellum, indicative of a low grade of organization, the corpus callosum and septum lucidum were found to be entirely wanting in these animals, or at least, existing only in a rudimentary state. Now the corpus callosum, which is the principal bond of union between the opposite hemispheres of the brain, had been regarded as the great characteristic of the brain in the Mammalia, and in fact this commissural apparatus presents the essential difference which exists between that, and the oviparous vertebrate classes.

Professor Owen says,

The agreement of the Marsupial animals in so important a modification of the cerebral organ as the absence of a corpus callosum and septum lucidum, affords additional and strong grounds for regarding them as a distinct and peculiar group of Mammalia; and when to this modification of cerebral structure are added the traces of the oviparous type of structure, presented in the circulating and absorbent systems, together with the peculiarities of the osseous and generative apparatus, we may with reason suspect that distribution of the Marsupiata to be artificial, and founded on an imperfect knowledge of their mutual affinities, which, from a modification of the teeth and extremities alone, would separate and disperse the species amongst corresponding groups of the Placental Mammalia.³⁹

It must not, however, be inferred, from the observations just made, that the species of Marsupiata resemble, in their dentition, those of the other orders of Mammalia with which they have been associated.

The Opossums have been arranged with the Insectivora, and they have moreover been classed, as before stated, in conjunction with the Phalangers, with the Quadrumana; the Thylacinus and Dasyures, have been arranged with the Carnivora, and the Wombat with the Rodentia. But in all these cases where Marsupial animals have been associated with species of other orders, there exist essential differences in the dentition.

The normal number of incisors in the Placental series is six above and six below—throughout this great section there are none in which I can find more than this number—any decrease in the number is comparatively unimportant, inasmuch as very nearly allied species often differ in the number, and even in the adult animal, there are not unfrequently less incisors than in the young of the same species. Now, in the Marsupiata, the highest number of incisors is eighteen—ten above and eight below,⁴⁰—hence when compared with the Quadrumana, the Opossums present an increase of ten in the total number of incisors; the true Quadrumana never having more than four in each jaw. The Thylacinus and Dasyures differ from the corresponding Carnivorous Mammals, in the Placental series also, in having an increase in the number of incisors.

All the Marsupial animals appear to have four true molars (if we except the two edentate species, Echidna and Ornithorhynchus,) whereas, in the Placental series the normal number appears to be three. If we compare the Thylacinus with the Dogs, we not only find a remarkable difference in the form of the true molars, these most nearly resembling the carnassiers of the ordinary carnivora, but we find an increase of 8 in the number.⁴¹

In addition to the points of distinction between the species of the order Marsupiata, and those of other orders of Mammalia, already pointed out, the skull furnishes some very important characters.

One of the most remarkable features in the skull of the Marsupial animal, consists in the permanent separation of the greater portion of the bones—they do not anchylose in the adult and old individuals, as do most of the bones of the skull in the Placental series:⁴² the temporal bone generally presents a permanent separation of the squamous, petrous, and tympanic elements. Professor Owen says,

I have observed this reptile like condition of the bone in the mature skulls of an Ursine Dasyure, a Virginian Opossum, a Perameles, in different species of Potoroo, (or Kangaroo-rats,) and Kangaroo, in the Wombat, and in the Koala.⁴³

The palatine portion of the skull is nearly always very imperfect, presenting large openings, and here again we find much difference between the Carnivorous Marsupials and the true Carnivora, these latter wanting the large posterior openings to the palate which characterize the former. Lastly, I would call attention to a remarkable peculiarity in the lower jaw of the Marsupiata: in all the species of this group of animals, (with the exception of the Echidna and Ornithorhynchus)

the angle of the lower jaw, is as if it were bent inwards, in the form of a process encroaching in various shapes and various degrees of development, in the different Marsupial genera, upon the interspace of the rami of the lower jaw. In looking down upon the lower margin of the jaw, we see therefore, in place of the margin of a vertical plate of bone, a more or less flattened surface, extending between the external ridge and the internal process, or inflected angle.⁴⁴

The reader who is anxious to enter deeply into the study of this interesting group of Quadrupeds is referred to the works of the authors quoted, and especially to those of Professor Owen, of whose writings it is seen I have freely availed myself, he having especially devoted his attention to study of the Marsupiata.

In conclusion, I may remark that the descriptions contained in this work are nearly all of them carefully drawn up by myself, from the original specimens contained either in the Museum at Paris, the British Museum, or that of the Zoological Society.

In pursuance of the plan of the Naturalist’s Library, English names are given to the various species, but I have not generally adopted the names contained in Pennant, Shaw, and others, nor yet those by which certain species are known in the Colonies, though those names are noticed in the observations on the species, to enable the reader, especially in the Colonies, to identify them. Such names as Native Hyæna and Tyger, Spotted Marten, Native Cat, Native Devil, Bandicoot, &c. only tend to keep up erroneous notions. The Native Hyæna has no affinities with the real Hyæna, nor are there any real Native Martens and Cats in Australia, the term Bandicoot (used for some of the species of Perameles,) is applied in India to several different animals, but none of them are allied to the animals called Bandicoots in Australia.

The Opossums

Didelphidæ

The term Opossum has been applied indiscriminately to the species of Marsupial animals; but, by the same rule that we use the words dog, cat, weasel, &c., to distinguish the different genera of carnivorous Mammalia, so ought we to express differences of the same kind, by using restricted English names for the different genera of the Marsupiata, which are quite as easily distinguished as those just mentioned. The term Opossum, therefore, is here restricted to that group which was first known by the name, constituting the genus Didelphys, the species of which (unless in a fossil state) are only found in the New World; that is, in the more southern portions of North America, and in the whole of South America. The figures given in the body of this work, will convey a more accurate idea of the general form and appearance of these animals, than words can do,—some of the smaller species might, by the common observer, be mistaken for rats and mice, were it not for the elongated and pointed muzzle; others again, greatly resemble shrews—the largest known species are scarcely equal to the common cat in size.

The Opossums may be at once distinguished from other Mammalia, by the great number of their incisors, of which there are ten in the upper jaw, and eight in the lower, making together eighteen, which is two more than is found in any other Marsupial animal, and six more than are found in any placental quadruped: they are arranged, in each jaw, so as to form nearly a semicircle; in the upper jaw, the two foremost incisors are larger than the rest, and generally separated from them by a small interspace—their form is nearly cylindrical, but at the apex they are slightly dilated. The canine teeth are well developed, two above and two below; those in the upper jaw are the larger; behind the canines are seven molars on each side of either jaw; the three foremost of these, in the upper jaw, are of a pointed and compressed form, and possess each two roots, and thus present the normal form of what are termed false molars; the next three molars on either side have each three roots, two of which are external, and the third is internal: the crown of each tooth presents a triangular figure, and is tuberculous, the last molar has also three roots, but its antero-posterior extent is less. In the lower jaw there are also three false molars on each side, and four true molars; these latter are strongly bristled with tubercles, have two roots, and are of an oblong form. The roots of all the teeth are remarkably long. The number of the teeth may be thus expressed:—

Incisors, \(\frac{10}{8}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 50.

The fore-feet in the Opossums are furnished with five well developed toes, which are armed with tolerably strong, compressed, and curved claws; the outer and inner toes are shorter than the others. The hind feet are furnished with four toes, having the same kind of claws as those of the fore feet, and a large inner clawless toe, (formed like a thumb,) which is opposed to the other toes. The tail is usually long, always more or less prehensile, sparingly covered with hair, and exhibiting scales, like the tail of a rat. The ears are usually of moderate size, and generally naked; the tip of the muzzle and under surface of the feet are likewise naked. The fur of these animals is generally more or less woolly or frizzled. The stomach is simple and small; and the cæcum is of moderate size. The clavicles are well developed.

The young of the Opossums, in the earlier stage of their existence, are carried in the pouch of the mother, which they sometimes quit, but return to in times of danger; but in some species the pouch is wanting, or exists merely in a rudimentary state, being represented by small folds of skin. The young of these, when very small, remain attached to the nipple of the parent, but when of larger size they quit this, and are carried on her back, where they hold themselves, by entwining their prehensile tails around that of the parent.

These animals are nocturnal, and remain hidden during the day time in the hollows of trees, on their branches, or in thickets. In the night they wander forth in search of food, attacking birds, and sucking their blood like the weasels, or their eggs; they moreover feed upon reptiles and insects, and do not even refuse fruits,—their diet in fact is omnivorous:⁴⁵ specimens which have lived in the menagerie of the Zoological Society, have been fed upon bread and milk.

One of the Opossums lives in the water, and would appear to be otter-like in its habits. Its feet are large and palmated, from which circumstance it has been separated by Illiger from Didelphys, and constitutes his genus Chironectes,—this animal can scarcely, however, be regarded as constituting a genus, but ought rather to be viewed in the light of a sub-division or sub-genus of Didelphys. It is described in this work under the name of the Yapock.

Virginian Opossum

Didelphys Virginiana.

Didelphis Virginiana, Temminck.

Description.—Length of head and body taken together, 22 inches;⁴⁶ of tail, 15 inches; fur long and woolly, with very long hairs interspersed with the ordinary fur on the upper parts of the body; general colour dirty white, with a slight yellow hue; legs dusky brown; eyes surrounded with the same tint; hairs on upper parts of body deep brown, or blackish at the tip; longer interspersed hairs, white, or tipped with brown; tail covered at the base with fur like that of the body, the remaining portion with scales of a whitish colour; ears large, naked, black, margined with white at the tip. The hairs of the moustaches are thick and very long, some of them are white and others black: five or six hairs of the same character spring from the cheek, and there are two or three which have their origin just above the eye. The length of the ears is 1 inch 5 lines; that of the head, measuring from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the ears, is 4 inches 5 lines, the length of the fore foot is 1 inch 9 lines—the claws not included—and the tarsus is 2 inches and 2 lines.

Observations.—The Virginian Opossum is one of the largest species of the genus, its form is robust, the head is very large, its ordinary fur is long and woolly, and on the back and sides of the body very long and coarse hairs are thickly interspersed with those which constitute the chief clothing of the animal. These characters serve to distinguish the present species from the greater portion of the South American Opossums, which are of a slender, weasel-like form, and have the fur comparatively short. There are, however, several species which have the same stout form, and fur of a similar character, with that of the Virginian Opossum, and which, therefore, may be placed in the same section; I allude to the D. cancrivora, and D. Azaræ, both of which inhabit South America,—these species have been long known, but although there are specimens in most museums, their distinctive characters were never clearly pointed out, until M. Temminck’s monograph⁴⁷ made its appearance. The D. Californicus, and D. breviceps, described by Mr. Bennett in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, also belong to this section.

The D. Virginiana inhabits North America, and, according to M. Temminck, is found from Mexico to the southern provinces of the United States. Pennant says it

inhabits Virginia, Louisiana, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru; I strongly suspect, however, its range is much more restricted.

Pennant has undoubtedly confounded the D. cancrivora, and, perhaps, also the D. Azaræ, with our present animal, when he states that it is found in Brazil. In the collections received from California, by the Zoological Society, there were no specimens of the Virginian Opossum, but there were the two new species described by Mr. Bennett,—may not one, or perhaps both, of these also occur in Mexico, and have been confounded with the D. Virginiana?

Following is Pennant’s account of the habits of the Virginian Opossum, with some slight additions and alterations. This animal is very destructive to poultry, and sucks the blood without eating the flesh: feeds also on roots and wild fruits; is very active in climbing trees; will hang suspended from the branches by its tail, and by swinging its body, fling itself among the boughs of the neighbouring trees; continues frequently hanging with its head downwards; hunts eagerly after birds and their nests; walks very slowly; when pursued and overtaken, will feign itself dead; not easily killed, being as tenacious of life as a cat: when the female is about to bring forth, she makes a thick nest of dry grass, in some close bush at the foot of a tree; the number of young varies from twelve to sixteen. At their birth the young are scarcely more than a grain in weight, blind, naked, and shapeless, nevertheless they find the teats in the pouch, to which they fasten themselves so closely, that they cannot be separated without difficulty: when they have attained the size of a mouse, and all their parts are developed, which takes place in about five days, they then leave the pouch, but return to suckle, or to seek shelter in time of danger. During this time the female shows an excessive attachment to her young, and will suffer any torture rather than permit the pouch to be opened; for she has the power of opening or closing it, by the means of certain muscles. The flesh of the old animals is very good, its flavour resembling that of a sucking pig; the hair is dyed by the Indian women, and woven into garters and girdles: the skin is very fœtid.

Crab-Eating Opossum

Didelphys cancrivora.

Didelphys cancrivora, Temminck.

Description.—Length of head and body, 16 inches; of tail, 15 inches; of head, from the tip of the muzzle to the ear, 3 inches 8 lines; of the fore-foot, 1 inch 8 lines; of the tarsus, 2 inches 2 lines of the ear, 1 inch 6 lines. Ordinary fur harsh and somewhat woolly, of a dirty white colour next the skin, and dark brown, or black, externally; the longer interspersed hairs are whitish at the base, and sooty black beyond; limbs and feet black general colour of the head brown, the hairs are whitish at the base and brown at the apex, in the region of the eye the hairs assume a somewhat deeper hue, and there is an indistinct dusky longitudinal line on the forehead; the tail is protected by scales, between which there are short hairs, the basal half is black, and the apical portion white; a space at the base, of about three inches in length, is covered with fur, like that of the body, the hairs, however, are almost entirely of a black colour; the ears are black;⁴⁹ the head is long.

This species is nearly equal in size to the D. Virginiana, and may be distinguished from that species and the D. Azaræ, by its deeper colouring, the long interspersed hairs on the upper parts of the body being black, or dark brown, instead of white; its head is apparently longer and more atenuated, and the ears are of an uniform colour.

The Crab-eating Opossum is common in Guiana and Brazil,—it climbs trees with facility, but runs badly—prefers marshy situations, where it feeds upon crabs—whence its name; it also attacks small birds and reptiles, and will eat insects. Its flesh is eaten by the natives, and is said somewhat to resemble that of the hare.

Californian Opossum

Didelphys Californica.

Didelphys Californica, Bennett. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for March 1833, p. 40.

Description.—Length of head and body 17 inches; from tip of muzzle to base of ear, 3 inches 11 lines tail, 14 inches; fore foot, 1 inch 8 lines; tarsus, 2 inches 1 line; ear, 1 inch 5 lines. Prevailing colour of the fur brown, the ordinary fur, which is somewhat woolly, being of a dirty white colour next the skin and blackish-brown externally; long white hairs are thickly interspersed, with the ordinary fur on the upper parts and sides of the body, and on the back part of the head: the limbs and feet are of a brownish black colour: the head is brown; a deep brown mark commences considerably in front of the eye, and extends backwards to the ear, the space below this mark extending backwards from near the tip of the muzzle on to the cheeks, is white: the chin, lower portion of the cheeks, and the whole of the under parts of the body are brown; the hairs on those parts, however, are for the most part whitish at the base; the ears are black: a very small portion of the tail is covered with fur like that of the body, beyond this the tail is, as usual, covered with scales and short interspersed hairs, towards the base they are of a black colour, but nearly the whole of the scaly portion of the tail appears to have been white; the head is very long; the hairs of the moustaches are most of them of a black colour, but some are white; the long bristly hairs which spring from the cheeks are white.

This species was obtained by the Zoological Society from that part of California which adjoins Mexico. Like the D. cancrivora it has a brown head, the long hairs which are interspersed with the ordinary fur, however, are totally white. I do not perceive any dark mark on the forehead.

Short-Headed Opossum

Didelphys breviceps.

Didelphys breviceps, Bennett. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for March 1833, p. 40.

Description.—Length of head and body 14 inches; tail, 12 inches; from tip of nose to ear, 3 inches 2 lines; ear, 1 inch 1 line; fore-foot, 1 inch 6 lines tarsus, 2 inches. Ordinary fur soft and woolly, white at the base, but black externally, the general tint of the animal, would therefore be black, but the interspersed coarser white hairs which are immensely long (some of those on the hinder part of the back measuring 3\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches) are so abundant on the upper part of the head and body, and also on the flanks, that they produce a hoary tint; the upper surface of the head is brown, of a deeper hue on the mesial line and on the crown; a broad white mark extends, on either side, from the tip of the muzzle on to the cheeks, and above this is a brownish black mark which runs through the eye: the lower part of the cheeks, chin and throat are of a dark brown tint; the chest and under parts of the body are of a pale brown colour, the hairs on these parts are white at the base: the legs and feet are black: the ears are blacky somewhat mottled with whitish at the apex: a very small portion of the tail is covered with fur like that of the body, the remaining portion is furnished with scales it appears to have been blackish at the base and whitish beyond.

This species is from the same locality as the last, that is, California; it is easily distinguished from either of the foregoing by the shortness of its head, and the great length and abundance of the interspersed coarse hairs on the back, &c.; the ears are also smaller in proportion.

As the above completes the descriptions of the five species of Opossum, belonging to the first section, or that group of which the Common Virginian Opossum may be regarded as the type, and in which the form of the body is robust, and the fur long and woolly, and having interspersed longer and somewhat bristly hairs,—I will briefly recapitulate their chief distinguishing characters.

Didelphys Virginiana may be distinguished by its paler colouring, white head, which exhibits no mark on the forehead, and by the comparatively small space occupied by the dark coloured hairs which surround the eyes, the ears are black margined with white at the apex,—sometimes there is a faint dusky mark on the forehead.

Didelphys Azaræ is remarkable for its white head, with three distinct black longitudinal stripes, one on each side running through the eye, and one in the middle, which commences between the eyes and becomes suddenly broader towards the crown of the head, the ears are white clouded with black at the base.

Didelphys cancrivora may be distinguished by the black, or dark brown colour of the long bristly hairs which are interspersed with the ordinary fur, the ears appear to be of an uniform black colour, the brown head will also serve to distinguish it from the two preceding species.

Didelphys Californica, like D. cancrivora, has a brown head but the long interspersed hairs on the upper parts of the body are totally white, its head is long, and the muzzle is very narrow.

Didelphys breviceps, may be distinguished by the shortness of the head,⁵⁰ and the smaller size of the ears,—there is a very conspicuous dark brown patch on the lower part of the cheek.

Quica Opossum

Didelphys Quica.

Didelphys Quica, Temminck.

Description.—Fur rather short and harsh to the touch; general colour deep ashy grey, somewhat blackish on the back; the edge of upper lip, lower part of cheeks, the chin, throat, and the whole of the under parts of the body, as well as the inner side of the limbs, white, faintly tinted with yellow; the muzzle and vertex of head blackish; on the forehead are two large whitish spots, situated above, and rather behind the line of the eyes; the eyes are encircled with black; beneath the eye is a distinct whitish, or yellowish spot; the feet are dusky; the ears are whitish, with the apical portion clouded with black; a considerable portion of the tail at the base, is furnished with fur of the same colour and character as that of the body, beyond this the tail is covered with scales and short interspersed hairs, which on the basal half are black, and on the apical white; the hairs on the mesial line of the throat, chest, and belly, are of an uniform colour throughout, on the other parts of the body they are of an ash colour at the base; those on the back and sides of the bodyare greyish white near the apex, and greyish black at the apex, on the middle of the back they are black at the apex, and there is a greater proportion of the darker tint on each hair. The hairs of the moustaches are very long and of a black colour.

Length from nose to root of tail 14 inches; of tail 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches, of which the portion covered by fur is about 2\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; length from nose to ear, 2 inches 8 lines; ear, 1 inch; tarsus, (claws included) 1 inch 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines.

Observations.—The above description is taken from a male specimen; M. Temminck says the females are of a blackish fawn colour, with a slight silvery hue; on the flanks and limbs a bright ash colour prevails; a rusty hue predominates on the belly, and in the region of the pouch the hairs are of a deep rust colour;⁵¹ the summit of the head and the muzzle is black or blackish, and there are three large white, or whitish, spots on each side of the head, one above, one beneath, and one behind each eye.

The fur of the young is more washed with fawn colour, or with brown, than in the adults.

The Quica Opossum is often confounded both with the Didelphys opossum and the D. myosurus or nudicaudata, these three species being closely allied, of nearly equal size, and having the conspicuous white spots above the eyes; the principal distinguishing characters of each are pointed out at the end of the description of D. nudicaudata.

The present species is common in Brazil, and is also found in Guiana and Surinam. It lives on trees, says M. Temminck, and preys upon small birds, and also feeds upon insects and fruits. In captivity it has been fed with flesh. During the day time the Quica, like the other species, hides itself and sleeps, having its body rolled into a ball.

Surinam Opossum

Didelphys opossum.

Didelphys opossum, Gmelin, Temminck.

Description.—Length from nose to root of tail, 10 inches 3 lines, (sometimes rather more;) of tail, 9 inches 2 lines. From nose to eye, 1 inch 1 line of hairy portion of tail 2 inches 2 lines. Size, larger than the European squirrel; tail rather shorter than the head and body taken together, or about equal in length; the hairy portion considerably extended, the naked portion covered with scales; fur fine and silky, and not abundant; muzzle much pointed; upper surface of the head straight. The fur on all the upper parts of the body, and of the hairy portion of the tail, of a rusty red, or cinnamon colour, brighter in the males than in the females: this colour predominates also on the head and beneath the eyes, but it blends into whitish near the angle of the mouth; the rusty tint is less pure on the under part of the limbs above the eye there is a great white spot,⁵² and behind the ear there is a similar spot; the lower part of the cheeks, the inner side of the limbs, and all the under parts of the body, are of a yellowish white colour; the eye is encircled by rust coloured hairs; the vertex of the head is always of a deeper hue than the prevailing colour; the naked portion of the tail is brown, excepting at the apex, where it is white.

The females are always larger than the males they are provided with a pouch.

This species is found throughout Guiana, and appears to be common in Surinam; and Temminck says he has reason to suspect it is comparatively rare in Brazil. He has found the remains of birds in the intestines of specimens dissected.

Woolly Opossum

Didelphys lanigera.

Didelphys lanigera, Desm. Mamm. p. 258. spe, 395. Microuré second, ou Microuré laineux, Azara, Essais sur l’hist. Nat. des Quadr. de la Province du Paraguay, tom. 1, p. 275.

Description.—Tail longer than the head and body taken together, very thick and triangular at the base; ear large; fur soft and woolly; occiput, anterior portion of forelegs, outer side of hinder-legs and tarsi of the colour of Spanish tobacco; back of the same colour, but of a deeper hue, remaining portion of body bright brown; white predominates on the under parts of the body;⁵⁴ on the head is a narrow black line, around the eye a deep cinnamon colour prevails; the space between the eye and the longitudinal mark is of a bright brown colour; ears naked, (excepting at the base externally) and of a livid violet colour; naked portion of tail white.

Length from nose to root of tail, 8 inches 8 lines; tail, 13 inches 6 lines, of which 4\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches, measuring from the tip, is destitute of hair, the naked portion on the under side is more extended, measuring 9 inches; the circumference of the tail at its root is 1 inch 7 lines; length of head, 2 inches 3 lines; the height of the ear is 1 inch, and the width 6 lines. A second specimen of this species was procured by a friend of Azara’s; the description which that friend furnished is as follows. The base of the fur is pale grey (azure⁵⁵) externally, it is whitish on the under parts, especially between the legs; the rest of the fur is of a chestnut colour, brighter on the head, around the eyes and on the sides of the neck and outer sides of the limbs; on the forehead a longitudinal blackish mark is observable. Habitat Caazapa, which is situate about fifty leagues from Assomption in Paraguay.

Observations.—This species appears to resemble in some respects the D. Derbianus, but wants (according to the description) the grey stripe on the back and thigh, the naked portion of the tail is much shorter in proportion. In D. Derbianus the tarsi are sooty black, and the fore-feet are furnished with white hairs, the naked portion of the tall is clouded with dark brown, &c. These differences are too great to admit of my considering the two species as identical.

I have never had an opportunity of examining the present species.

Thick-Tailed Opossum

Didelphys crassicaudata.

Didelphys crassicaudata, Desmarest, Mamm. p. 527 257, Microuré troisième, Azara, Quad, de Paraguay, vol. i., p. 284.

Description.—Length of head and body, 11 Inches 3 lines; tail, 10 inches 3 lines; from nose to ear, 2 inches 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; ear, G lines; tarsus, 1 inch 5\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines. Head short, ears small, the posterior edge emarginated near the base, distinctly furnished with hairs tail slightly exceeding the body in length, very thick at the base; tarsi small; fur moderately long, rather harsh and adpressed (much less woolly than in most opossums,) general tint brownish-yellow, under parts paler; anterior angle of the eve and muzzle brown; the tip of the chin and also the tip of the muzzle on either side, whitish; on the cheeks, a little below the eyes, is a yellowish patch which extends round the angle of the mouth; about one-third of the tail is covered with fur of the same character and colour as that on the body; beyond this the tail is black, excepting a small portion, about one inch in length at the apex, which is white; the hairs are short, closely adpressed and scarcely hide the scales which are beneath; the fore portion of each foot is brown; the hairs covering the ears on the outer side are brownish, and those on the inner side are yellow, but towards the outer margin they are brown. The hairs of the back have the basal half grey, and the apical half ochreous, terminating in yellowish brown on the belly and underside of the neck the hairs are ochreous, faintly tinted with grey at the base. The female has no pouch.

Observations.—The head of the D. crassicaudata is shorter and less pointed than in most other opossums; the ears are unusually small, and the tail is very thick. In the character of the fur also, this species differs from most others, the hairs being rather short and somewhat adpressed, and the soft under fur being very scanty: the specimens observed by Azara varied considerably in their colouring. It inhabits Buenos Ayres and Paraguay. A specimen, procured by Mr. Darwin at Maldonado, and from which the above description is taken, weighed 14\(\frac{1}{2}\) oz.

Philander Opossum

Didelphys Philander.

Didelphys Philander, Temminck.

Description.—Size of D. opossum, muzzle short and obtuse; tail longer than the head and body taken together; ribs very broad; fur very soft, cotton-like and glossy, of a bright rusty fawn colour on the upper parts of the body, and tinted with yellowish on the sides; under parts of the body yellowish white; a brown patch encircles the eyes and extends forward on the sides of the muzzle; a narrow brownish line runs from the tip of the muzzle and terminates on the crown of the head; the forehead on either side of this line is greyish white; the ears are large, of an oval form and brownish colour, and the feet are of the same tint; the tail is covered at the base with fur like that of the body, beyond this it is covered with scales, at the base brown, and at the apex white, an intermediate space is mottled with brown and white. The female is provided with a pouch.

Length from nose to root of tail, 9 inches; tail, 13 inches; from nose to ear, 1 inch 9 lines; ear, 10 lines; tarsus, 1 inch 5 lines; length of portion of tail covered with fur, 2 inches 8 lines.

In an animal now before me, which agrees in all essential particulars with the foregoing description, there is scarcely any brown colouring on the tail, it is confined to a few scattered spots on the basal portion; on the other hand I observed a specimen at Paris, in which the tail was almost totally brown, having only a few white spots; this specimen did not differ otherwise from another in which the tail is coloured as mentioned in the foregoing description. In the females the fur is of an ashy-fawn colour, and the region of the pouch is furnished with rusty-red hairs. They are always much larger than the males.

Inhabits Surinam and Guyana.

Cinereous Opossum

Didelphys cinerea.

Didelphys cinerea, Temminck.

Description.—Size of the Black-Rat (Mus rattus;) head small; muzzle very short; tail very slender, much longer than the head and body taken together; the fur is thick but short and of a cotton-like texture. The males are of an ashy-grey colour, the extreme points of the hairs on the upper parts of the body are blackish; the under parts of the body and inner side of the limbs are whitish, the throat and chest are slightly tinted with rust colour; the fur on the upper surface of the head is of the same tint as that of the back, there is no central black stripe; the eye is encircled with black; the tail is covered at the base with fur like that of the body, the remaining portion is perfectly destitute of hairs; the basal half is of a brown colour, and the remaining portion is white.

In the females the fur is somewhat tinted with rust colour, and in the region of the ears and on the cheeks there is a yellowish tint; they have no pouch.

Length from nose to root of tail, 6 inches 9 lines; of tail, 1 inches 6 lines; of hairy portion of tail, 2 inches 2 lines; from nose to eye, 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines.

This species was discovered in Brazil by Mr. Natterer.

Merian’s Opossum⁵⁶

Didelphys dorsigera.

Didelphys dorsigera, Temminck.

Description.—Tail slender, longer than the head and body taken together, clothed at the base with hair like that of the body, the remaining portion naked and of a brown colour; fur short and somewhat adpressed, the hairs on the upper parts of the body are grey at the base, and greyish-brown, or brown, at the apex; the under parts of the body are yellowish white; a deep brown spot encircles the eyes, this spot is most extended in front of the eye, above and beneath the eye it occupies but a narrow space; the forehead and vertex of the head are yellowish-white, the cheeks are of the same tint, as are also the outer side of the limbs and the feet.

Length from nose to root of tail, 5 inches 11 lines; of tail, 7 inches 7 lines; the hairy portion of the tail is about 1 inch; from nose to eye, 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines.

Observations.—This species inhabits Surinam. The females have no pouch, in its place there is a fold of the skin of the belly, which may be regarded as a rudimentary pouch. The young, when sufficiently old to leave the teats to which they are at first attached, are carried by the parent on her back, where they retain their position by means of their prehensile tails, which are entwined round that of the mother. It is this habit of carrying the young on the back, which has given rise to the name dorsigera; this name, however, might be applied with as much propriety to several other species, (such as D. cinerea, murina, tricolor, and brachyura, in which there is only a rudimentary pouch.

Murine Opossum

Didelphis murina.

Didelphys murina, Temminck.

Description.—Tail rather longer than the head and body taken together; the hairy portion of but small extent, the naked portion of an uniform yellow colour. Fur somewhat adpressed and short; the general tint of the upper parts of the body is rusty or yellowish, but the hairs are deep grey at the base; the head is yellowish—without any longitudinal dark stripe on the forehead; a deep brown tint surrounds the eyes, which is most extended in front of the eye the whole of the under parts are yellowish white, and the cheeks are of the same tint; the fur which covers the base of the tail is coloured like that of the back; the ears are yellowish.

Length from nose to root of tail, 5 inches; tail, 5 inches 9 lines; hairy portion of tail about half an inch; from nose to eye, 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; tarsus, (claws included) 9\(\frac{1}{4}\) lines.

Observations.—The Murine Opossum inhabits the northern parts of South America, and is very common in Guyana. It burrows in the ground and climbs trees, to the boughs of which it suspends itself by the tail; feeds upon small birds and insects, and is said also to eat fruits. The female has no pouch.

Elegant Opossum

Didelphys elegans.

Didelphys elegans, Waterh. Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Baggle Beagle, No. IV. p. 12, Mammalia p. 95, Pl. 31.

Description.—Length from nose to root of tail, 4 inches 6 lines; of tail, 4 inches 4 lines; of tarsus, (claws included) 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; from nose to ear, 1 inch 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; of ear, 7\(\frac{1}{4}\) lines. Muzzle slender and pointed; tail rather shorter than the head and body taken together; fur long and very soft; general tint of the upper parts of head and body ashy grey washed with brown; on the sides of the body, especially near the shoulders, a yellowish tint is observable; the lower part of the cheeks, throat, under parts of the body and feet, are white, with an indistinct yellowish tint; the eyes are encircled with brownish black, which tint is extended forwards on the sides of the muzzle; the upper surface of the muzzle and the inter-orbital space is pale. The tail is furnished throughout with minute decumbent hairs, excepting a small naked space at the tip beneath, of about one line in length; on the upper surface they are brown, and on the under they are whitish. The fur of the upper and under parts of the body is deep grey at the base; on the lower part of the cheeks, chin, and on the mesial line of the throat and chest, the hairs are uniform—not grey at the base. The ears are naked and of a brown colour.

Observations.—The specimens, from which the above description is taken, were brought by Mr. Darwin from Valparaiso. Mr. Darwin states, that they

frequent thickets growing on the rocky hills near Valparaiso. They are exceedingly numerous, and are easily caught in traps, baited either with cheese or meat. The tail appeared to be scarcely at all used as a prehensile organ; they are able to run up trees with some degree of facility. I could distinguish in their stomachs the larvæ of beetles.

Tricolored Opossum

Didelphys tricolor.

Didelphys tricolor, Geoff. Catal. des Mamm. p. 144, sp. 7.

Description.—Top of the head and whole upper surface of the body nearly uniform black, the hairs, however, are obscurely annulated with greyish-white, which produces a somewhat grizzled appearance; chin, throat, sides of the head, (extending a little above the eye) the sides of the body, tail, and outer side of the limbs deep rich rusty-red; chest and under parts of the body white, with a faint yellowish tint. Fur short and adpressed. Fur, like that of the body, extends about 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches on the tail. Feet black; the tarsi obscurely grizzled with rust colour; ears naked. The tail is short and very thick at the base. The head is large.

Length from nose to root of tail, 5 inches 6 lines; from nose to ear, 1 inch 2\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; of tail, 2 inches 8 lines; tarsus, 10 lines; ear 5 lines. The female has no pouch.

Observations.—The above description is taken from a specimen contained in the Museum at Paris. A second specimen in the same Museum differed in being a little paler, there being a greater admixture of grey in the colouring of the upper parts of the body.

This species is found in Guyana and Cayenne; it lives in the woods and feeds upon insects. The Microuré cinquième of Azara is referred by some authors to the present animal, but his description certainly agrees with the D. brachyura, a specimen of which was brought by Mr. Darwin from Maldonado, which is near the territory of Azara’s researches.

In the Museum of the College of Surgeons there is a small opossum closely resembling the present species in size and proportions, but which is of an uniform brown-black colour above, and pale brown beneath—darker on the under side of the head and throat—I can trace no rusty red on the sides of the body, nor can the under parts ever have been white. It is preserved in spirits, but the colours are distinct. This animal can scarcely be a variety, either of the Didelphys tricolor or D. brachyura. Should other specimens like it be discovered, the specific name Hunteri might be appropriate.

Didelphys tricolor and D. brachyura differ from other species of the genus in having a short tail, which I should imagine is but little used as an organ of prehension.

Short-Tailed Opossum

Didelphys brachyura.

Didelphys brachyura, Auct.

Description.—Length from nose to root of tail, 6 inches; from nose to ear, 1 inch 6 lines; of tail, 2 inches 8 lines; of tarsus, (claws included) 8\(\frac{3}{4}\) lines; of ear, 3\(\frac{3}{4}\) lines. Head large; canine teeth very large; ears rather small; tail short, rather more than half the length of the body; fur short and crisp; the upper surface of the head and back ashy-grey, grizzled with yellowish-white; the sides of the head and body, and under parts rusty-yellow, rather paler on the belly than other parts, and of a deeper hue on the rump and cheeks; the eye is encircled with rusty-yellow; feet yellowish; tail clothed with short stiff hairs, and exhibiting scales, brownish above and dirty yellowish-white beneath; a small naked space beneath of about two lines in length. Fur of the back greyish at the base, that on the belly uniform; ears clothed with minute yellowish-white hairs. The female has no pouch.

Observations.—Temminck gives as the locality of this species, Guyana, he also says it is very common in Surinam. It must have a wide range for Mr. Darwin procured a specimen at Maldonado La Plata, he states that he found in its intestines the remains of insects, chiefly ants,—there were also some belonging to the order Hemiptera.

Didelphys Pusilla

Didelphys pusilla. Desmarest, Mammif. 261, Microuré sixieme, ou Microuré nain Azara Quad, du Paraguay. Vol. i., p. 304. French Trans.

Description.—Fur short and soft, above mouse grey, beneath whitish; eye surrounded with black, the black most extended in front, above eye whitish, a spot of yellowish-white beneath the eye; tail naked. Length from nose to root of tail, 3 inches 4 lines tail, 3 inches 8 lines; ear, 6 lines, width, 4 lines.

Habitat Paraguay.

I have never examined a specimen of this species.

The Dasyures

Dasyuridæ

The animals of this group are the analogues of the Carnivora among ordinary mammalia, they possess the same general form of skull, and the structure of their teeth is very nearly the same as in the Opossums; they differ, however, in having only eight incisors in the upper jaw, and six in the lower.

They form an exception to the other Marsupialia, in having no cæcum. In external characters, the most striking difference consists in the tail being well clothed with hair, and in not being prehensile. These differences induced Geoffroy to separate the Dasyures from the Opossums, and they were first pointed out by him in the “Annales du Muséum”⁵⁸ for 1804. Some differences in the number of the teeth, and some modifications in their form, as well as in the external characters of these animals, were subsequently seized upon by M. Temminck,⁵⁹ to divide the group into three genera. We shall begin with that which contains the largest carnivorous marsupial quadruped—the Native Hyæna or Dog-headed Opossum, which constitutes Temminck’s genus Thylacinus. Its teeth are:—

Incisors, \(\frac{8}{6}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 46. The incisors, both of upper and lower jaws, are arranged so as to form a segment of a circle; the outermost incisors are the largest, and the innermost the smallest: they are all slightly compressed, and in fact closely resemble those of the Dog. The canines are large, and but slightly compressed. The false molars have each two roots, and are compressed and pointed,—viewed laterally, they present nearly a triangular figure, but the point is slightly recurved, and there is a small posterior cusp more or less distinct. The true molars of the upper jaw greatly resemble the “Carnassière” in the true Carnivora; their horizontal section presents an isosceles triangle, the base of which is foremost, and forms almost a right angle with the outer surface of the jaw; they present a cutting edge, the central portion of which is most elevated, and a large inner cusp; the cutting edge opposite this cusp is notched; the posterior molar is smaller than the others, and differs slightly in shape. These molars have three fangs, whilst the true molars, in the lower jaw, have only two. They are compressed, and, viewed laterally, present nearly a triangular figure, but are deeply notched before and behind, so that there are three elevated cusps, of which the central one is the largest. The feet nearly resemble those of the Dog; there are five short toes to the fore-feet, which are devoid of hair beneath, and exceedingly rough; on the hind-feet there are four short toes, which, as well as those of the fore-feet, are armed with short, thick, and but slightly compressed claws; the pad at the base of the toes is naked, and there is a naked line extending backwards to the heel. The remaining external characters are given in the description of the species, Thylacinus cynocephalus. Its internal anatomy is not known.

In the section of Dasyures—to which the term Dasyurus⁶⁰ is now restricted—the teeth are:—

Incisors, \(\frac{8}{6}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{2\ \cdot\ 2}{2\ \cdot\ 2}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 42. There are so many points of resemblance between the dentition of Dasyurus proper, and Thylacinus, that I shall merely notice the principal differences. In the first place, the outer incisor on each side of each jaw is not larger than the rest; the true molars, of the upper jaw, as viewed from above, are nearly in the form of a right angled triangle, and instead of being elevated so as to present a cutting edge, they are furnished with numerous pointed tubercles: on the outer edge of the teeth are three cusps,⁶¹ a little within these are two other pointed tubercles, and on the inner side of the tooth we observe the inner lobe produced into a point: the last molar is narrow and placed transversely in the jaw. The true molars of the lower jaw present about five sharply pointed cusps; three of these are visible as we view the outer side of the tooth, and of these, the central one is the largest; the other two are within and have no representative in the Thylacinus. Such is the dentition of Dasyurus viverrinus, which may be regarded as a typical example of the genus, but in Das. ursinus we find the dentition in almost all respects intermediate, and owing to the shortness of the muzzle in this animal the false molars are thrown close together, and are much shorter than in other species; the first false molar, instead of being most extended in the longitudinal direction is broader than long; the crown of the second is nearly round; the middle pair of incisors of the upper jaw are larger than those next them: the canines are very large.

The fore-feet are furnished with five well developed toes, armed with sharp, compressed, slightly curved claws, which are of moderate size; the central toe is the longest and the inner toe is the shortest. The hind-feet are furnished with four well developed toes, which differ but little in length; the claws scarcely differ from those of the fore-feet. In Dasyurus macrourus and D. Geoffroyi, there is a small nailless thumb: in D. Maugei the thumb is not visible externally, but its bones exist in the skeleton.⁶² Though small, the thumb in D. macrourus is opposeable, as in the Opossums, and in the genus Phascogale. The hind-feet are naked beneath, but the sides of the heel are clothed with hair. The ears are of moderate size, and in general tolerably well clothed with hair. The tail is not prehensile, always well clothed, and usually bushy: the tip of the muzzle is naked. These animals do not live upon trees like most of the true Opossums,—they hide themselves in holes or in crevices of rocks, during the day, and at night prowl about like weasels in search of their prey. They are extremely voracious, and very destructive to the poultry and live stock of the colonists of Van Diemen’s Land and the continent of Australia.

The third division of the Dasyures, to which M. Temminck gives the name Phascogale, comprises species of much smaller size than either of the two preceding, the four known species of Dasyurus being but little inferior to the common cat in size or equal to it, whilst the largest Phascogale is scarcely equal to a full grown rat. In this genus the toes of the fore-feet are more slender and elongated than in Dasyurus, and so are those of the hind-feet, the claws are also longer and more curved: circumstances which would lead us to believe they climb trees—at least occasionally. The thumb on the hind-foot is small and nailess: there are five toes to the fore-feet, and four, besides the thumb, to the hind-feet the fleshy pads on the under side of the toes of the hind-feet are very large. The tip of the muzzle is naked and divided in the middle by a longitudinal groove. The ears are of moderate size, their posterior edge is emarginated, and they are naked, or but sparingly clothed with hairs. In dentition they approach still more near to the Opossums than the typical Dasyures—the teeth are:—

Incisors, \(\frac{8}{6}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 46. The two foremost incisors of the upper jaw are decidedly larger than the rest, and Separated from them by a small interspace; the other incisors are arranged three on each side, and placed closely together; in these respects resembling the Opossums more nearly than Dasyurus, in which the incisors are arranged in nearly a semicircle, and are of equal size, or very nearly so. The incisors of the lower jaw are inclined forwards and but slightly upwards; the central pair are the largest. The canines are of moderate size—less than in Dasyurus: the false molars are compressed and pointed: in the upper jaw the foremost false molar is the smallest and the posterior one the largest, but in the lower jaw the posterior one is the smallest. The true molars agree in form with those of Dasyurus. The principal differences therefore, as regards the dentition, between Dasyurus and Phascogale consists in there being an extra false molar on each side of the upper and under jaws, in the lateral arrangement of the incisors and the large size of the anterior pair. The Phascogales in all probability feed chiefly upon insects.

Ursine Dasyurus

Dasyurus ursinus.

Dasyurus ursinus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus. tom. xv. p. 305.

Didelphys ursina, Harris, Linnæan Trans. vol. ix., p. 176, Pl. 19.

Description.—Form very stout; head very large, short; ears broad and moderately long; fur moderately long, harsh, and of a black colour; a broad white band crosses the chest and runs backwards over the base of the fore-legs; a second broad white band crosses the haunches; chest brownish; the fur both on the upper and under parts of the body brown next the skin: tail very thick, furnished with longish brown-black hairs; naked tip to muzzle, brown; the fur on the sides of the muzzle is not sufficiently close to hide the flesh; the ears are flesh coloured, partially covered with longish black hairs on the outer side there are but few hairs; the naked soles of the feet are flesh coloured.

Length from nose to root of tail, 21 inches; tail, 7 inches; nose to base of ear, 4 inches 2 lines; tarsus, 3 inches; length of skull, 5 inches 2 lines width, 4 inches; length of palate, 2 inches 8\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines.

Observations.—The white mark across the chest, and that across the rump, are not always present,—at least they are not so much extended as above described. In a skin before me, the chest mark does not pass over the base of the fore-legs; on one side there is a white spot just below and behind the shoulder; there is no white mark across the rump, but a single white patch on one side.

The Ursine Dasyurus inhabits Van Diemen’s Land, and is called by the colonists the native Devil, by which name it was known upwards of thirty years back.

Mr. Harris states that

these animals were very common on our first settling at Hobart Town, and were particularly destructive to poultry, &c. They, however, furnished the convicts with a fresh meal, and the taste was said to be not unlike veal. As the settlement increased, and the ground became cleared, they were driven from their haunts near the town, to the deeper recesses of the forests yet unexplored. They are, however, easily procured by setting a trap in the most unfrequented parts of the woods, baited with raw flesh, all kinds of which they eat indiscriminately and voraciously; they, also, it is probable, prey on dead fish, blubber, &c., as their tracks are frequently found on the sands of the sea shore.

In my note book I have the following memorandum of observations made upon this animal,—two specimens of which have lived for a long time in the Zoological Society’s menagerie.

Upon first beholding the ursine opossum, the large size of the head is very striking, and when it opens its mouth, that is still more so. It is very savage—makes a sort of growling noise when disturbed—sleeps all day, and the keeper says it is not very active at night—feeds upon bread and milk, and meat—does not distinguish the keepers, not even those who feed it—neither do the other Dasyuri.

Mr. Gunn says

the Devil is destructive to sheep all over the colony, and is indeed the most destructive of our indigenous quadrupeds, the Thylacinus being much scarcer. The D. ursinus is nocturnal, very fierce, and a match for an ordinary dog; they bite very severely.

Geoffroy’s Dasyurus

Dasyurus Geoffroyi

Dasyurus Geoffroyi, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. for Nov. 10, 1840.

General hue of the upper parts of head and body, yellowish brown slightly inclined to greenish; a tint produced by the admixture of rich fulvous yellow and black, the hairs being of the former colour near the apex, and black at the tip: on the sides of the body, and especially on the hinder parts, the fulvous hue prevails: white spots, (some of which are very small and others about half an inch in diameter,) are scattered in an irregular manner over the whole of the upper parts and sides of the body: upper lip, chin, throat, and the whole of the under parts of the body and inner side of the limbs, white, with a slight yellowish tint, and in parts tinted with grey: tail about equal to the body in length, cylindrical and rather slender, at the base covered with fur of the same general hue as the body, about the middle there is a considerable admixture of black hairs and at the tip the hairs are entirely of this colour; feet pale, mottled in parts with brownish; ears with white hairs on the inner side, and clothed with short brown hairs externally.

Length from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, about 16 inches; tail, 12 inches, the long hairs at the tip extending about 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches beyond; nose to ear, 2 inches 7 lines; ear, about 1 inch; tarsus, 2 inches 2 lines, without the claws.

The above description is taken from a male specimen lent me for the purpose by Mr. Gould, who procured it at Liverpool Plains, New South Wales. A female, also lent me by Mr. Gould, was rather smaller, and its colouring less rich. It appeared to be adult, and to have had young; the teats being very large—there are six of them.

This species, in its colouring and size, is intermediate between the Dasyurus macrourus and the D. Mangei, From the latter it is readily distinguished by its possessing a small thumb to the hind-foot, and from D. macrourus by its less robust form and the want of white spots on its tail; its colouring moreover is less deep, (not so rich a brown), and the spots on the body are more numerous.

Dasyurus Maugei, Black Variety

Dasyurus viverrinus. Geoff. Ann. du Mus. iii., p. 360.

Description.—Black, with a purple-brown tint, beneath, brown or greyish brown, back and sides of body with largish scattered white spots; tail slightly bushy, of an uniform black or black-brown colour; legs and feet dark brown: the hairs on the ears of the same colour as those of the head. The fur on the back is grey at the base, that on the belly is pale-grey at the base: the hairs of the moustaches are long and of a black colour. Ears large, somewhat pointed.

Length from nose to root of tail, 14\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; of tail, 9 inches—without including the long hair at the tip.

Observations.—The tint of this animal varies slightly; it is sometimes nearly a pure black on the back, but a purple-brown tint is usually observable—the white spots vary somewhat as to size and number, there are usually a few small white spots on the head—the fur is not very soft but rather long.

This animal, which has by all naturalists been regarded as a distinct species, Mr. Gould discovered,⁶⁶ during his stay in Van Diemen’s Land, to be a variety of the preceding, (D. Maugei.) In a litter of four young ones he found two grey specimens (the D. Maugei,) and two black—he states however, that the black variety is much more rare than the grey.

Instances are common in which we find black varieties of animals usually otherwise coloured, but I do not recollect an instance in which coloured varieties have been found, in a state of nature, of animals typically black; this circumstance, together with the fact, that the black specimens are comparatively rare, has induced me to retain the name of Maugei for the species in preference to that of viverrinus.

Geoffroy’s Phascogale

Phascogale minima.

Dasyurus minimus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus. Tom. 3, p. 362.

Phascogale Swainsonii, Waterh. Mag. of Nat. Hist. for June 1840, Vol. iv., p. 299.

This species is larger than the Phas. flavipes; its fur, instead of being, as in that species, of a yellow-grey tint, is of a dark and rich brown hue; the under parts of the body are deep grey, slightly grizzled with white, whereas in Phas. flavipes, the under parts are yellow and white; the most important differences, however, consist in the more attenuated and elongated form of the head, especially of the anterior portion; the teeth, nevertheless, form an uninterrupted series, hence each tooth, (especially the false molars,) has a proportionately greater antero-posterior extent. The distance from the fore part of the front incisors of the upper jaw to the hinder part of the third true molar in Phas. minima, is 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines, whilst in Phas. flavipes, the same measurement gives 6\(\frac{3}{4}\) lines; the teeth are less powerful than in the animal last mentioned, and the incisors of the upper jaw form an uninterrupted series, whilst in Phas. flavipes, there is an interspace on either side between the anterior pair of incisors and the lateral ones. In the elongated and slender form of the muzzle, and more delicate teeth, the present animal evinces an approach to the Myrmecobius; its fur is moderately soft, rather long and glossy, of a deep slate-colour next the skin; the hairs are most of them narrowly annulated towards the apex with rich brown, or yellow-brown; the longer hairs are black; on the under parts of the body, the hairs (which, like those of the upper parts, are of a deep slate-grey at the base,) are slightly tipped with brownish-white, or ash-colour; the feet are covered with dark brown hairs above (not yellow as in Phas. flavipes;) the tail is also dark brown, and on the upper side inclining to black; the hairs on this part are all short and adpressed.

There are other differences between the present species and that with which we are comparing it, which may help to distinguish them, I allude to the colouring of the head. In Phas. flavipes, the upper lip, lower part of the cheeks, chin, and throat, are white, and there is, moreover, a white spot beneath the eye, whereas, in Phas. minima, no white is visible, indeed the head is almost of an uniform colour with the body, the hairs on the sides and upper parts are black, slightly grizzled with yellowish, and on the chin and throat they are grey, tinted with brownish, especially on the chin.

The specimen from which this description is drawn up, is apparently a female, and furnishes the following dimensions:—length from nose to root of tail, 5 inches 2 lines; tail, about 3 inches 5 lines; head about 1 inch 2 lines; tarsus, to end of claws, 10 lines; it is from Van Diemen’s Land.

The original of the above description is in the Museum of Mr. Swainson, who kindly allowed me to examine and describe it.

This species sometimes attains rather a larger size than is indicated by the dimensions given. I have altered the name I had applied to it, of Swainsonii into minima, Mr. Gould, who has recently examined the original of Geoffroy’s Dasyurus minimus, having informed me that that animal was specifically identical with the Swainsonii, Geoffroy’s specimen must be young, being only four French inches in length.

Myrmecobius

Allied to the Dasyuri, appears to be the little animal from Swan River, on which I founded the genus Myrmecobius. Its curious dentition is;—

Incisors, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{5\ \cdot\ 5}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 52,—a number surpassing that of any known quadruped, unless it be certain armadillos and cetaceans. The incisors are of a compressed and pointed form, and have the apical portion slightly recurved; those of the upper jaw are separated from each other by a small vacant space; the space between the posterior pair on either side is rather less than the width of the teeth; between the others the intervals are smaller; the anterior pair of incisors are rather less than the rest, and the posterior pair are the largest. In the lower jaw, the anterior pair of incisors are decidedly larger than the rest. The canines are rather small, much compressed, and somewhat recurved. The false molars have each two roots; they are much compressed, pointed and have the apical portion slightly recurved; near the base in front, and behind each of these teeth there is a notch; in the foremost of the false molars, this notch is indistinct; the last of the false molars, both of upper and under jaw, is considerably smaller than the others, and of a compressed form, that of the upper jaw presents four minute tubercles of nearly equal size and arranged in a line; that of the lower jaw has three of these small tubercles, one of which is indistinct. The true molars are very small and longer than broad; those of the upper jaw present numerous small black tubercles; in the lower jaw the outer edge of the molars is produced and divided by notches, so as to leave three or four bristly points in each; on the outer side of each molar, excepting the foremost, are several small blunt tubercles, which must be nearly on a level with the gum in the living animal; between all the teeth both of the upper and lower jaws, excepting the four posterior molars of the lower jaw, there is a space which is sometimes equal to the width of the teeth, but generally less. The ramus of the lower jaw is twisted in such a manner that the outer surfaces of the true molars come in contact with the masticating surface of those of the upper jaw.⁶⁸ The fore-feet are furnished with five toes, which are armed with strong, curved, and slightly compressed claws; on the hind-feet there are but four toes,—their claws scarcely differ from those of the fore-feet. The tail is bushy and not prehensile,

Red Myrmecobius

Myrmecobius rufus.

Major Mitchell gives this name to an animal discovered during one of his surveying expeditions in Australia, and which was called the “Red shrew-mouse” by the men composing his party. Not having taken notes, the author applies the above name to the animal with hesitation.

Family Peramelidæ

Perameles

The dentition of the species of Perameles is as follows:

Incisors, \(\frac{5\ \cdot\ 5}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 48. The incisors are of a compressed and truncated form, and arranged laterally; the posterior incisor in the upper jaw is usually separated from the rest,—in Perameles nasuta, the intervening space is equal to at least three times the width of one of these teeth, but in P. lagotis, it is scarcely equal to the width of one of the incisors. The canines are of moderate size,—sometimes small,—of a compressed form and recurved at the apex. The false molars are compressed and pointed, and have a small notch in front and behind. The true molars are nearly of a quadrate form, as viewed from above, but have the exterior portion slightly broader than the inner one; they present five or six small but rather sharp tubercles; the posterior molar of the upper jaw, which is smaller than the rest, is nearly of a triangular form in P. nasuta, and almost round in P. lagotis. In the lower jaw the molars are longer than broad, they are divided in the middle by a transverse notch, and present each four principal pointed tubercles, which are of larger size than those of the upper jaw. The fore-feet have three well-developed toes, of which the outer one is the smallest; the claws are very large and strong, solid and but slightly arched, and in fact well suited to the burrowing habits of these animals. Besides these toes there are two tubercles, one on the outer, and the other on the inner side of the foot, which are the rudiments of the remaining two toes they are each furnished with a minute rounded nail. In the hind feet, which are long, there is a central very long toe, armed with a large broad nail, which is flat beneath, and slightly arched above; on the outer side of the central toe is another of moderate size, and armed with a nail of the same description as the last, and on the inner side of the foot there are two slender toes, joined in a common integument as in the Kangaroos, and furnished with a double hollow claw; on the under and inner side of the foot (at least in P. nasuta,) are to be perceived the remains of the inner toe, or that which assumes the thumb-like character, in many marsupials its extreme point is free, but there is no nail.⁶⁹ The somewhat short fore-legs and comparatively long hind-legs of the Perameles or Bandicoots, cause them to arch the back much when walking; when they move quickly their gait is half way between running and jumping. In P. nasuta, obesula, and Gunnii, the tail is very short and but sparingly clothed with hair, and the ears are of moderate size. In P. lagotis the ears are very large, like those of a Rabbit, and the tail is long and furnished with long hairs especially on the upper surface of the apical portion. This animal has unusually long hind-legs and feet, and when standing they are spread out and the fore-feet placed between them, or very slightly in advance.

The pouch in the Bandicoots opens backwards, and in this respect is the reverse of what is found in other Marsupalia, where the pouch opens upwards or forwards. In one species of Perameles, (P. lagotis,) however, the pouch certainly appears, from the stuffed specimen in the Zoological Society’s Museum, to open forwards.

Dr. Grant found only the remains of insects in the intestines of a Perameles nasuta which he dissected, and Professor Owen obtained the same result in the dissection of P. obesula. A specimen of P. lagotis, now living at the Zoological Society’s Menagerie, is fed entirely on vegetable substances,⁷⁰ and the keeper informed me that it refused meat, and would not eat meal-worms when given to it at the suggestion of Professor Owen. The extremely worn state of the molars in a skull now before me, would appear to indicate, that in the wild state, this animal had been feeding upon vegetable substances.

The Perameles, as well as the Opossums (Didelphys,) have the stomach simple, and a moderately long intestinum cæcum, they agree also with the true Opossums, in having ten incisors in the upper jaw. In general structure they furnish a beautiful link between the last mentioned animals and the Kangaroo family.

New Guinea Parameles

Perameles Doreyanus.

Perameles Doreyanus, Quoy et Gaimard. Voyage de Découvertes de l’Astrolabe. Zoologie, Tom. i., p. 100, Pl. 16.

In this species the head is conical, the muzzle is long and tolerably thick; the eye is small and the pupil is linear and in the direction of the muzzle; the ears are large and somewhat rounded; the limbs are short and stout; the outer and inner toes of the fore-feet are clawless. All the claws are strong, short, slightly arched, and rounded above and beneath. The fur is harsh, of a rusty-brown colour on the upper parts of the body—a tint produced by the admixture of blackish-brown harsh hairs, with others of a finer quality and golden rust colour; the sides of the body are of a paler hue, and the under parts and inner side of the limbs are of a pale yellowish tint. The ears are yellowish, and destitute of hair excepting on the anterior margin. The toes of the hinder-feet are covered with pale yellowish-brown hairs. The tail is short, and but sparingly furnished with short harsh hairs.

Total length, 19 inches 7 lines; tail, 3 inches 5 lines; head, 4 inches 4 lines; ears, 1 inch 1 line anterior limbs about 3 inches 3 lines; posterior member, about 5\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches.

This animal was procured by M. M. Quoy and Gaimard at Dory harbour. New Guinea. Its dentition is said to be. Incisors, \(\frac{8}{6}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); molars \(\frac{7\ \cdot\ 7}{7\ \cdot\ 7}\) = 46, in which case it has two incisors less in the upper jaw than the other species of Perameles.

The authors just mentioned, moreover state, that it most nearly resembles the Perameles nasuta, but the forehead is less broad, and the nasal bones are less prolonged on to the frontals; the incisors are shorter, and directed backwards.

I did not see this species in the Paris Museum.

Bougainville’s Perameles

Perameles Bougainvillii.

Perameles Bougainvillii, Quoy et Gaimard. Zoologie, du voy. de l’Uranie, p. 56, Pl. 5.

Muzzle attenuated; eyes tolerably large; ears ovate, one inch long; fur moderately harsh, that on the upper parts of the body of a rusty tint, and on the under parts and inner side of the limbs, rusty grey. The tail is rusty brown above, and greyish beneath: the claws are yellowish.

From nose to root of tail, 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; head, 1 inch 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; tail, 2 inches 8 lines; fore-legs, 1 inch 5 lines; posterior limbs, 2 inches 8 lines.

The small size of this animal, and its having the teeth but little developed, caused M. M. Quoy and Gaimard to suspect that it might be young, they say however, they saw many specimens, and they were all of the same size. It was obtained in the peninsula in Shark’s Bay.

A specimen in the Paris Museum, with the name “Perameles Bougainvillii” attached, I found in such bad condition that I could not well ascertain its characters; but, after comparing the three specimens together, contained in this Museum, it appeared to me they were all of one species, though bearing the three names, P. nasuta, P. aurita, and P. Bougainvillii.

Closely allied, no doubt, to Perameles is the

Chœropus Ecaudatus

described by Mr. Ogilby from a drawing made by Major Mitchell.

The drawing of the foot very closely resembles that of the genus Sus in form and characters; two toes only are represented, short, and of equal length; but there is a swelling at the base of the first phalanges, which renders it probable that there may be two smaller ones behind. The Perameles, on the contrary, have three middle toes on the fore-feet, all of equal lengthy and armed with very long powerful claws, besides a small rudimentary toe very distinctly marked on each side. The form and character of the hind-feet were perfectly similar to those of the Perameles, as were also the teeth, as far as could be judged from the drawing, except that the canines did not appear to surpass the anterior molars in point of size. The ears were long, elliptical, and nearly naked; the head broad between the ears, and very much attenuated towards the muzzle; the body about the size of a small rabbit, and the fur very much of the same quality and colour as in that animal.

Mr. Ogilby, after expressing his confidence in the fidelity of Major Mitchell’s drawings, and the care with which that gentleman assured him he had made the observation in question, expressed his belief that this animal would be found to constitute a new genus of Marsupials, and proposed for it the provisional name of Chœropus, in allusion to the decided characters of the fore-feet.

The following is the notice of this animal inserted by Major Mitchell in his journal, on the occasion of first discovering it.

June 16, 1836. The most remarkable incident of this day’s journey was the discovery of an animal of which I had seen only a head in a fossil state in the limestone caves of Wellington Valley, where, from its very singular form, I supposed it to belong to some extinct species. The chief peculiarity then observed was the broad head and very long, slender snout, which resembled the narrow neck of a wide bottle; but in the living animal the absence of a tail was still more remarkable. The feet, and especially the fore-legs, were also singularly formed, the latter resembling those of a pig; and the marsupial opening was downwards, and not upwards, as in the Kangaroo and others of that class of animals. This quadruped was discovered by the natives on the ground; but on being chased it took refuge in a hollow tree, from which they took it alive, all of them declaring that they had never before seen an animal of the kind. This was where the party had commenced the journey up the left bank of the Murray, immediately after crossing that river.⁷²

The specimen was presented to the Museum at Sydney.

The Kangaroos

Macropodidæ

These animals are remarkable for the flexibility and lightness of the anterior parts of the body, the smallness of the anterior members, and the great size of the posterior extremities, and of the tail. In their ordinary position the fore parts are elevated and slightly inclined forwards, and they rest upon the hinder extremities and tail, hence the whole weight and strength is thrown into these parts: the great length and size of the tail also serves to balance the body, not only when in its ordinary semi-erect position, but in the enormous leaps by which these animals progress. The fore part of the body being elevated, gives to the eye a wide range, which is essential to animals, inhabiting for the most part open plains,⁷³ and whose escape from danger must be by flight. The prehensile and unguiculate structure of the anterior extremities

appear to have been indispensable to animals requiring to perform various manipulations in relation to the economy of the Marsupial pouch, and when such an animal is destined, like the Ruminant, to range the wilderness in quest of pasturage, the requisite powers of the anterior members are retained and secured to it by an enormous development of the hinder extremities, to which the junction of locomotion is almost restricted.⁷⁴

On the fore-feet there are five well-developed toes, each of which is armed with a large and strong nail, and this is curved, concave on the under surface and convex above; the two outer toes are the shortest and the central one is the longest. The hind-feet are furnished with one very large central toe, and an outer one, which is shorter and smaller, but, like the first, armed with a large solid nail which is but slightly curved;, convex, and sometimes keeled on the upper surface, and flat beneath: on the inner side of the foot are two small slender toes, united in one common integument, and having the appearance of a single toe—the nails however are separate, of small size, and hollow beneath; these nails I have repeatedly seen used by the animal to cleanse its fur. The tarsus is devoid of hair beneath, but covered with minute hardened tubercles—these are most distinct in those species which inhabit rocky situations. The ears are usually of moderate size, oval form, and tolerably well clothed with hair.

The dental formula in the genus Macropus is as follows:—

Incisors, \(\frac{6}{2}\); canines, \(\frac{0\ \cdot\ 0}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 28. Such is the number of teeth generally found in the species of this genus, but in some species (M. giganteus, M. rufo-griseus, M. ruficollis, and M. fuliginosus,) the anterior or false molar, we are informed by M. F. Cuvier,⁷⁵ is wanting. In a skull of M. giganteus now before me, and which belonged to an animal not quite adult, the number of molars visible is \(\frac{6\ \cdot\ 5}{3\ \cdot\ 4}\); a second skull, belonging to an adult animal has \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) molars, as described by M. F. Cuvier. In the first mentioned of these two skulls, the last molar on each side of each jaw, though visible, had not penetrated the gum, and had the animal lived a little longer the following changes would have taken place: on the side of the upper jaw in which there exists six molars, the two foremost would have been thrust out by a false molar, which is in an advanced state of development beneath them; on the opposite side of the upper jaw, but one tooth would have been displaced, the other having already fallen. Now, as the permanent, or true molars, are successively developed one behind the other, the new teeth thrust forward those which precede them, and the foremost of the series, owing to the pressure from behind, begins to decay, or to be absorbed at the root and soon falls away from the socket. Professor Owen examined a skull of a very old M. major in which there were only two molars on each side of each jaw, showing that this vis a tergo does not stop even when the animal has attained maturity. In the skulls of five or six other species of Kangaroo which have come under my notice, I invariably found the number of teeth as stated at the commencement of this account of the dental formula.⁷⁶

I have thought it desirable to enter into these particulars as regards the number of the teeth in the Kangaroos, since M. F. Cuvier has founded two genera upon the difference in the number of the molars in certain species,—to those which have only four molars, and in which the tip of the muzzle is covered with hair, (having only a narrow naked space around the nostrils) he restricts the generic title Macropus, and places in this genus the M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus, M. ruficollis, and M. rufo-griseus. Those species which have the tip of the muzzle naked, the tail sparingly clothed with hair,⁷⁷ and four true molars and one false molar on either side of each jaw, are thrown together by the same author under the generic title Halmaturus, a name which had originally been applied by Illiger, to all the Kangaroos, and was therefore synonymous with the older title, Macropus of Shaw.

The foremost pair of incisors of the upper jaw, in the true Kangaroos, are arched in front, concave behind and broadest and truncated at the apex, and the remaining incisors of the upper jaw are broad and compressed. In M. major (and perhaps some other nearly allied species) the middle incisors on each side of the upper jaw is narrower than the others, and has a vertical groove in the outer side; the posterior incisor is very broad, being equal in width to the two anterior incisors taken together, and has two vertical external grooves,—but in most of the species of Kangaroos the second incisor on each side has no external groove, and the hindermost one has but one of these grooves. The second incisor is always the narrowest, and the hinder one varies in width according to the species. The incisors of the lower jaw are very large, horizontal in their direction, long, compressed and pointed like a lancet, they are slightly broader near the middle than elsewhere, and present each two sharp cutting edges.⁷⁸ The canines although almost always wanting in the true Kangaroos, are sometimes present, though in a rudimentary state. Professor Owen observes, that he has found canines in the M. rufiventer, but of a very small size and concealed in the gum, and he has traced the germs of these teeth in a mammary fœtus of the M. major.

Between the incisors and molars there is a vacant space of considerable extent. The false molars are compressed and furnished with a sharp cutting edge, those of the upper jaw have a small posterior inner lobe. The crowns of the true molars are nearly of a square form, but rather longer than broad, and before worn down by usage, they present two transverse acute ridges, which are connected by a longitudinal ridge in the middle of the tooth,—this ridge is less elevated than the transverse ridges.

The Hypsiprymnii, or Potoroos, and Kangaroo-rats as they are termed, differ chiefly from the true Kangaroos, in possessing distinct canines; the foremost pair of incisors, in the upper jaw, are larger and considerably longer than the others, which are proportionately smaller than in the Kangaroos, and have no external grooves; the incisors of the lower jaw are narrower and not dilated in the middle, but gradually increase in width from the point towards the base. The canines are rather small, compressed, and but slightly pointed. The false molars are proportionately larger than in the Kangaroos, and generally have numerous distinct vertical grooves both on the outer and inner side. The true molars before worn, present each four blunt tubercles: the foremost of these molars is the largest, and the hindermost the smallest. This decrease in the size of the posterior molars I have never observed in any of the true Kangaroos. The skull is less suddenly contracted in front of the orbits, and broader between the orbits. The toes of the fore-feet are less evenly developed, and the claws are longer and fitted for burrowing. The anterior extremities are in general proportionately longer, the hinder limbs, as well as the tail, are less powerful, and the toes and claws are less robust.

As presenting the most perfect dentition I will begin with the genus

Hypsiprymnus

Section 1.—Hypsiprymni. the head considerably elongated and narrow, the ears small and rounded, the muffle⁷⁹ naked not only in front, but with the hairless portion considerably extended on the upper surface of the muzzle; tail covered with scales like that of a rat, and with short stiff hairs springing from between them,—these being not sufficiently numerous to hide the scales. Canine tooth moderately developed, and separated from the incisors by a considerable interval. In the two species described in this work, the space between the canine and the incisors is about equal to the width of the two posterior incisors taken together; tarsi short; fore-limbs rather strong; the true molars are proportionately narrower in the species of this, than in those of the next section, and the foremost compressed molar, (which is the analogue of the carnassier) is less distinctly fluted, or grooved, externally.

To this section belongs the Hypsiprymnus murinus, the animal which Illiger gives as the type of his genus Hypsiprymnus. Mr. Gray restricts the name to this section.

Small-Footed Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus micropus.

Hypsiprymnus micropus, Gould’s MSS.

This species closely resembles the H. murinus, but the head is proportionately smaller, and so are the fore and hind-feet, and the tail is shorter. The fur is rather more harsh and more distinctly pencilled with whitish; all the hairs of the under fur on the back are slate grey at the base, and rusty brown externally; the harsher hairs, which are abundant, have the basal half slate grey, and the remaining portion white, slightly tinted with rust colour, and, at the point, they are black; besides these, there are some interspersed longer hairs which are entirely black, excepting at the root: the fur on the belly is pale grey next the skin, and dirty white externally; fore and hind-feet brown; greyish above, excepting on the toes; ears densely clothed with brown hairs; blackish at the margin. Length from nose to root of tail, 15\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tail, about 7 inches; tarsus, 2 inches 7 lines; nose to ear, 3 inches 2 lines; ear, 1 inch 1 line.

Inhabits King George’s Sound.—From the collection of Mr. Gould.

The skull of this species has the same elongated narrow form as that of the H. murinus, with which it very nearly agrees in size, but is remarkable for convexity of the outer surface of the superior maxillary bones, which gives to the muzzle an inflated appearance. In H. murinus the width of the muzzle at half an inch from the tip of the nasal bone is 5\(\frac{1}{3}\) lines, whilst the same part measures in H. micropus, 6\(\frac{1}{4}\) lines. The molar teeth of H. murinus are longer than broad, whilst in H. micropus their length and width are equal, the length of the five molars on each side of the upper jaw in H. micropus is 9 lines; those in H. murinus measure rather more than 11 lines. Length of skull of H. micropus, 3\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; width 1 inch 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines.

Section 2.—Hypsiprymni with comparatively short and broad skulls; canines placed near the incisors; the space between them usually about equal in width to one of these teeth; foremost compressed molar with numerous distinct vertical grooves; true molars square, or very nearly so; tarsi tolerably long, tail also tolerably long and well clothed with hairs. To this Section Mr. Gray applies the name Bettongia.

White’s Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus Whitei.

Hypsiprymnus White, Quoy and Gaimard.

Kangurus Gaimardii, Desmarest. Mammal. Suppl.

Hypsiprymnus Phillippi, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for May 1838, p. 62.

This species is about the size of a rabbit; the tail is long, and the tarsi are long and slender; ears of moderate size and rounded form; fur long and moderately soft; general tint grey-brown, slightly washed with yellow; under parts grey-white, very faintly tinted with yellow; feet very pale brown; ears well clothed with fur externally, of the same colour as that of the head, and internally with yellow hairs tail furnished above with moderately long, and somewhat adpressed, rich brown hairs; beneath, with hairs of a pale brown colour; a crest of long dark brown (sometimes blackish) hairs, runs along the upper surface of the apical portion of the tail, occupying about one-third of its entire length; at the point is a tuft of long white hairs. The fur on the upper parts of the body is deep grey at the base and dusky at the point; the longer interspersed hairs have the exposed portion of a black colour; the hairs composing the fur are wavey.

Length from nose to root of tail, 16 inches; tail, 13 inches; tarsus, (the nails not included,) 4 inches 3 lines; ear, 1 inch 2 lines.

The above description is from specimens in the Museum of the Linnæan Society, which are also the originals of Mr. Ogilby’s description of H. Phillippi.

The dimensions of a skull of a similar animal in the collection of Mr. Gould, are as follows;—Length, 3 inches; width, 1 inch 8 Hues; foremost molar, upper jaw, 4 lines—the anterior pair of incisors are much compressed and curved. Of this species I have examined several specimens—they all possessed the tuft of white hairs at the tip of the tail.

This species agrees with the Hypsiprymnus contained in the Paris Museum, which is the original of the Kangurus Gaimardii of Desmarest, and the Hypsiprymnus White of Quoy and Gaimard. A drawing of the skull of this animal, lent me by Professor Owen, together with a careful description, taken from the specimen by myself, leave no doubt on my mind of the accuracy of the above conclusion; the dimensions of the Paris specimen are as follows:—from nose to root of tail, 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tail, 13 inches; tarsus, to base of claws, 4 inches 1 line; ear, 1 inch; from nose to ear, 2 inches 9\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines. From a careful examination of the H. formosus of Mr. Ogilby (Proc. Zool. Soc. for May 1838, p. 62,) I feel convinced that it is the young of the present species. In the College of Surgeons is a similar specimen, the skull of which exhibits all the usual characters of a young animal. The H. formosus is 11 inches in length, without including the tail, which measures 1 inches—its colouring is somewhat richer, there being a greater admixture of yellow in the tint of the fur.

H. Whitei appears to be tolerably common in New South Wales.

Ogilby’s Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus Ogilbyi.

Bettongia Ogilbyi, Gould MS.

Less than a rabbit; tail moderately long; fur dense, the under fur very abundant, soft, long and woolly; general colour brown, (not dark,) ohscurely washed with yellow on the sides of the face and body; the whole of the under parts of the body dirty yellowish white; ears rather short and rounded, clothed with yellow hairs; hind-feet brown, darkest on the sides, especially of the toes; fore-feet palish brown. Tail well clothed; a very small space at the base covered with fur like that of the body; beyond this, and extending to about the middle of the tail, the hairs are of a rusty hue on the upper side, and very pale brown on the under; the apical half of the tail is clothed with black hairs, which vary from rather more than half, to three quarters of an inch in length—those nearest the tip are the longest; on the sides of the tail the hairs are comparatively short, and excepting at the tip they are chiefly of a deep brown colour; on the under side of the apical half of the tail the hairs are longer than on the sides, and are of a black colour. The ordinary hairs of the back are rather broadly annulated with pale rusty yellow—sometimes rusty white, and at the point they are blackish-brown; the longer interspersed hairs are black. The fur both on upper and under parts of the body is grey at the base.

Length from nose to tail, 13 inches; tail, 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tarsus, 3 inches 11\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; ear, 11 lines; nose to ear, 2 inches 8 lines.

Inhabits Western Australia in the neighbourhood of Swan River.

This species is very closely allied to H. penicillatus, but its tarsi are proportionately rather longer and more slender, and differ in being of a deeper hue; the ears are longer, and the apical half of the tail is black both above and below. In H. penicillata the black hair is confined to the upper surface of the tail, on the under part longish brown adpressed hairs extend to the tip, this under part is, moreover, much more densely clothed than in the present species, in which the hairs are not sufficiently numerous to hide the scales—this does not arise from the wearing away of the hair, as is often the case, for the under side of the tail is better covered than the sides.

Rabbit-Like Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus cuniculus.

Hypsiprymnus cuniculus, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for May 1838, p. 63.

Head somewhat elongated; ears moderate, rounded; fore-legs weak; tarsi long; tail rather longer than the body; fur rather long and not very soft to the touch; general colour brown-grey, pencilled with white; under parts of body dirty white; feet brown-white; tail well clothed with hairs, pale-brownish; towards and at the tip dark brown, the hairs longer on this part; ears covered with hairs externally like those of head, those on the margin slightly tinted with yellowish; on the inner side of the ears the hairs are nearly white, but faintly tinted with yellowish. Fur both on upper and under parts of body grey at the base; the longer hairs on the back are white towards the apex, the white occupying a considerable space, and brown-black at the apex.

Length from nose to root of tail, 17\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tail, 13 inches; nose to ear, 3 inches 2 lines; ear, 1 inch 2 lines; tarsus, (claws not included) 4 inches 7 lines.

Inhabits New South Wales.

This species is intermediate in size, between H. rufescens and H. penicillatus; from the former it is easily distinguished by the ears being pale externally, and not black, the hairs covering the tarsus being very pale, instead of brown, and by the tail being dark brown near and at the apex. In the H. rufescens the tail is of a very pale colour throughout, and has a considerable portion at the apex, which is almost white. Compared with H. penicillatus the present species differs in being considerably larger, in not having the hairs at the tip of the tail so decidedly longer than those on the other parts there is not, therefore, so distinct a tuft; these hairs are brown, and not black, and the dark hairs are nearly confined to the tip of the tail, whereas in H. penicillatus they extend a considerable distance along the upper surface; the ears are rather larger and the head is longer; the lower front incisors are much shorter and stouter, the upper front incisors are much stouter; the distance between the fore part of the anterior incisors, (upper jaw) and the hinder part of the canines is 6\(\frac{1}{4}\) lines; the space between the canine and posterior incised is about 1 line. In H. penicillatus there is not more than half a line between the canine and incisors, and the distance between the anterior of front incisor and hinder part of canine, is a trifle more than 5 lines; from fore part of front incisor, upper jaw, to the first molar, 10 lines. The specimen apparently is a male, and is contained in the Museum of the Zoological Society.

Rusty Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus rufescens.

Bettongia rufescens, Gray. Magazine of Natural History for November 1837, p. 584.

Hypsiprymnus melanotis, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for May 1838, p. 62.

Head moderate; ears moderate, (larger than in the other species here described,) and somewhat pointed; fore-legs very small; tarsi long; tail long; fur rather long and soft, colour on the back rusty-red, pencilled with white; on the head and sides of the body, greyish, pencilled with white, the white prevailing; chin, throat and the whole of the under parts of the body dirty white; the fore-legs and feet, and the inner side of the hind-legs dirty white; tarsi brown, somewhat grizzled with dirty white; tail tolerably well clothed with hairs; those on the under side and about 3 or 4 inches of the apical portion are uniform dirty white; on the remaining portion they are brownish-white, dusky at the tip and also at the base, the dark colour most evident towards the base of the tail. The cars are densely clothed with longish hairs; on the inner side they are fringed with bright gold coloured hairs, and the very long hairs which cover the back of the cars are of a greyish-black colour. The hairs of the under fur on the back, are palish grey at the base, then white, then bright rust colour, and shaded into dusky at the apex. The longer hairs are also grey at the base and gradually shaded into black; considerably beyond the middle they are broadly annulated with white, towards the apex rust coloured, and at the apex blackish. The hairs on the under parts of the body are almost uniform in colour throughout, being very obscurely tinted with pale grey at the base; on the anterior part of the muzzle the hairs are brown. Length from nose to root of tail, 19 inches; tail, 14\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; tarsus, (without including the claws) 5 inches 3 lines; from nose to base of ear, 3 inches ear, 1 inch 8 lines.

Habitat New South Wales—from the neighbourhood of Hunter’s River.

The above description is taken from a specimen in the Museum of the Zoological Society, which is the original both of Mr. Gray’s and Mr. Ogilby’s descriptions.

This species is easily distinguished from others here described, by the rufous tint which prevails on the upper parts of the body, the larger size of the ears, and their black colour externally, and also by the whitish colour of its tail; the hairs on the tail are not sensibly longer at the apex than on other parts.

Gray’s Hypsiprymnus

Hypsiprymnus Graii.

Hypsiprymnus Graii, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for December 8, 1840.

This species is closely allied to the H. rufescens, but differs in being rather smaller, of a yellowish grey colour, in having the ears, tarsi, and tail proportionately shorter, and in being destitute of the distinct black patch on the back of the ears.

The fur is moderately long and rather soft; that on the back is grey next the skin, and externally pencilled with white, and yellowish-grey, and they are rusty black at the point; the under parts are dirty yellowish-white; the feet pale brown; a deep brown hue is observable on the outer side of the tarsus, especially near the heel. The tail is rusty brown above, slightly inclining to yellowish; brown-white beneath, and about three inches of the apical portion is covered with white hairs,—it is tolerably well clothed, but the hairs at the tip do not form a distinct tuft as in H. penicillatus; the hairs on this part average at about half an inch in length, or a little more. The ears are furnished with whitish hairs within, excepting near the margin, where they assume a yellow tint; externally the fur on the ears resembles that of the upper surface of the head.

Length of adult male, from nose to root of tail, 18 inches; tail, 12 inches; tarsus, (without claws) 3 inches; ear, 1 inch; nose to ear, 2 inches 10 lines. Found near Northam, interior of Western Australia.

The Hypsiprymnus Lesueuri of Quoy and Gaimard is founded upon a skull in Direk Hastog’s Island. In size and general form this skull greatly resembles that of the H. Whitei, but the tympanic cavity is said to be larger, the zygomatic arches broader, and the palate shorter.

Genus Macropus

Section, or Subgenus, 1

Macropus proper.

The species of this section are distinguished by the tip of the muzzle being hairy, the naked portion being confined to a narrow space around the openings of the nostrils, and a small space between them: it contains some of the largest and also some of the smallest species of Kangaroos.⁸⁰

Great Kangaroo

Macropus giganteus.

Macropus giganteus, Shaw, Naturalist’s Miscellany Pl. 33.

Macropus major, Shaw, General Zoology, Vol. 1., part 2, p. 505, Pl. 115.

Didelphys gigantea, Linn. Syst. ed Geml. p. 109.

Kangurus labiatus, Geoff. and Desm., Mamm. p. 273, sp. 423.

Ears moderate; tail moderately long and very thick; fore limbs rather long compared with most other species; fur moderately long, neither soft nor harsh; the hairs waved and giving to the fur a slight woolly character. General colour greyish-brown, darker on the hack and order on the sides of the body; under parts and inner side of limbs brownish white, on the chest faintly tinted with greyish; the Lairs on tins part obscurely tipped with dusky; prevailing tint of fore-legs greyish; the fore-feet grizzled with black and brown-white; toes black. The hind-legs externally, and the base of the tarsi, are very pale brown—or what might almost be called brown-white; on the basal portion, a very obscure pale rusty tint is observable, and on the hinder part is a faint greyish hue; the toes are brown-black; the tail is covered at the base with fur of the same character and colour as that of the body, but as we recede from the base, the hairs become gradually more adpressed and harsher, and those on the apical half, which are almost entirely black, are extremely harsh. The head is almost of an uniform colour, nearly like that of the body, but there are some slight shades of difference, for instance, there is a very faint rusty hue on the sides; the lower part of the cheeks is somewhat greyish; the sides of the muzzle are rather dusky, and the top is of a paler hue; an indistinct whitish mark runs backwards beneath the eye from above the angle of the mouth the tip of the muzzle is whitish; the chin is dusky, and the throat is greyish white; the moustaches are black. The ears are well clothed within with brownish white hairs, but those nearest, and at the apical margin, are blackish; externally they are almost entirely brown-black; at the base rather paler. Fur, both of upper and under parts of body, brown-grey at the base; the hairs on the upper parts white-brown near the apex, and brown or brown-black at the apex.

Length from nose to root of tail, 47 inches; tail, 34 inches; circumference of tail at the base, about 12\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; tarsus, 4\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches, not including the nails; nose to ear, 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; ear, 4\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; width 3 inches; height of animal in its ordinary sub-erect position 51 inches.

The above description is taken from a fine male specimen preserved in the Museum of the Zoological Society. The female is rather smaller than the male. Inhabits New South Wales and Van Dicmen’s Land.

Shaw’s second name (Macropus major,) is very commonly used for this species, but that author following Gmelin, and some other older authors, used the specific name Giganteus, when he originally described it in his Naturalist’s Miscellany. As both names are equally applicable, I have adopted the oldest.

The great Kangaroo was first discovered in Cook’s first voyage, in 1770, whilst that celebrated navigator was stationed for a short time on the coast of New South Wales.

Captain Cook says,

On Friday, June 22d, a party who were engaged in shooting pigeons for the use of the sick of the ship, saw an animal which they described to be as large as a grey-hound, of a slender make, of a mouse colour, and extremely swift.

The same kind of animal was soon after seen by several of Cook’s party and by Cook himself as well as Sir Joseph (then Mr.) Banks, and ultimately the wishes of the party to examine this extraordinary animal were gratified, Mr. Gore, one of the associates of the expedition, having been so fortunate as to shoot one, Dr Shaw observes,

and it seems to have been from this specimen that the figure given in the voyage was drawn.

Pennant’s account of the habits of the Kangaroo contains much in a small compass, I will, therefore, give it in his own words.

Inhabits the western side of New Holland, and has as vet been discovered in no other part of the world,⁸¹ The natives call it Kanguru. It lurks among; the grass; feeds upon vegetables: drinks by lapping; goes chiefly on its hind-legs, making use of the fore-feet only for digging, or bringing its food to its mouth. The dung is like that of a deer. It is very timid. At the sight of men flies from them by amazing leaps, springing over banks seven or eight feet high, and going progressively from rock to rock. It carries its tail quite at right angles with its body when it is in motion; and when it alights often looks back; it is much too swift for greyhounds; is very good eating, according to our first navigators; but the old ones, according to the report of more recent voyagers, were lean, course and tough.

The weapon of defence was its tail, with which it would beat away the strongest dog.

In the spring of the present year, (1703) I had an opportunity of observing the manners of one brought into the capital alive. It was in full health, very active, and very mild and good natured; on first coming out of its place of confinement, it for a little time went on all fours, but soon assumed an upright attitude. It would sport with its keeper in a very singular manner; it first placed its tail in a perpendicular manner,⁸² erected its body on it as a prop, and then raising its whole body, darted its hind-legs on the breast of the man. It was capable of striking with great force if provoked; and it could scratch violently with its fore claws.

To this account I have but little to add. In Van Diemen’s Land it is called the “Forrester,” and also “Boomer.” Mr. Gunn,⁸³ who observed the habits of this animal whilst in Van Diemen’s Land, states that it frequently exceeds 70 lbs. weight,⁸⁴

that it exists in the top of the western mountains, and in the more remote parts. On the Western mountains I saw them in great numbers, and the country being perfectly open, I had some beautiful hunting; but in some cases they completely outstripped the Kangaroo dogs, which are a cross between the greyhound for speed, and bull-dog for strength. I had a tame one which allowed my children to play with it, and was extremely docile. The tail is not used in progression, although universally asserted; in leaping they usually hold it out pretty horizontal, but never as a third limb. Indeed, in defence, the hind-legs alone are used, with which they can give most powerful strokes, and a very large Kangaroo will keep off, in a favourable situation, one or more dogs.

Kangaroos, although, from the circumstance of their food being abundant in spots, as on recently burnt land, they may be seen in flocks, are not gregarious; their food brings them to one spot, but you never see two together, properly speaking; and on no occasion have I ever seen or known them in flocks, owning a leader, and proceeding en masse, &c. &c.

They lodge during the heat of the day amongst high ferns, such as Pteris esculenta, high grass, and in underwood, commonly here called scrubs, that is, dense patches of Melaleuca, Septospermum, &c.

Mr. Gould informs me, the Kangaroo will take readily to the water and can swim well; and it frequently happens that, when hunted, it will catch one of the dogs up in its arms and will make off with it to the nearest water, in which it will plunge the dog until it be drowned.

The Great Kangaroo, as early as the year 1800, had bred in this country, several specimens having at that time been kept for some years in Richmond Park, since then, some at least, of our Menageries have never been without this species.

The Menagerie of the Zoological Society has at different times contained no less than five species of Kangaroo, viz: Macropus giganteus, M. Parryi, M. Bennettii, M. Berbianus, (a specimen of which, also lived in the Menagerie of the Earl of Derby,) and M. penicillatus.

Woolly, or Red Kangaroo

Macropus laniger.

Kangurus laniger, Quoy and Gaimard. Voy. del’Uranie, Pl. 9.

Kangurus rufus, Desm. Mamm. Suppl. p. 841 541.

This species, which is the Red Kangaroo, of the colonists of New South Wales, is rather larger than the M. giganteus, and remarkable for its short woolly, or rather cotton-like fur; the fore limbs are proportionately large, especially in the male, and the tail is enormously thick and sparingly clothed with fur—its prevailing colour is fulvous-red, or it may be called yellowish-rust colour (not dark,) the head, neck, shoulders, and back, are tinted with grey; which, excepting on the head, is rather pale; the under parts of the body are of a pale ash colour, slightly tinted with fulvous in the male, but in the female these parts, as well as the limbs, are pure white. The limbs in the male are dirty white, obscurely tinted in parts with fulvous, and the tail is of the same colour; the toes of both fore and hind-feet are covered, in both sexes, with black, or nearly black hairs. The sides of the muzzle, as far back as the angle of the mouth, are pure white, but intermixed with the white are some stiff, bristly, black hairs, which have a tendency on each side of the muzzle to form two black lines, and are most abundant above the angle of the mouth, where they form a somewhat conspicuous patch. In the female (in which the head is of a paler grey than in the male,) there is a conspicuous broad white mark on each side of the muzzle, extending backwards, from the angle of the mouth, beneath the eye—in the male the corresponding mark is indistinct. The ears are covered internally with white hairs, and externally the hairs are very nearly of the same grey tint as the head, excepting near the tip, where they are dusky.

Length from nose to root of tail, 5 feet; tail, 3 feet; nose to ear, 8 inches; ear, 5\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; tarsus, (claws not included) 13\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches. The female measures from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, 49 inches; tail, 35\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches—the tail is therefore longer in proportion than in the male, and it is moreover more slender. The posterior incisor is not quite half as broad again as either of the preceding incisors, and is destitute of the external folds or grooves, so general in the group. I have not had an opportunity of examining the incisors of a male specimen.

The muzzle is hairy as in the M. major, but the hairs do not extend quite so far forwards.

The specimen described by Messrs, Quoy and Gaimard is said to be from Port Maquarie; it is in a very bad condition. I have therefore, with Mr. Gould’s permission, taken my description from two specimens brought by him from the interior of New South Wales.

Sooty Kangaroo

Macropus fuliginosus.

Kangunis fuliginosus, Desmarest. Mammal. p. 273.

General colour of fur sooty-brown, deeper on the back than on the sides of the body—this colour is shaded into grey on the neck, and the chest and belly are of the same tint; the ears are but sparingly clothed, and are externally of a blackish colour, as well as the feet and upper surface of the tail at the apex; the ears are margined with white hairs, and the tip of the tail is yellowish beneath. The hairs on the feet are brown-black, but terminated with white; those on the under side of the neck are ashy-brown at the base and whitish at the point, and those on the tail are of an uniform brown-black colour.

Length of head and body, 59 inches; tail, 29 inches; head, 9\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches—the female is one-fifth less.

Said to inhabit Kangaroo Island.

The above description is from Desmarest. My own description, from a specimen in the Paris Museum, is from a smaller specimen than that above noticed—it is probably the female, and is as follows: General colour yellowish-brown; toes and apical portion of the tail blackish: fur long; and inclining to a woolly texture; the long fur extends about one foot on to base of tail, and on the remaining portion the hairs are shorter and adpressed; on the tarsi and fore-legs the hairs are grizzled with whitish; under parts of body whitish—the hairs are yellowish-brown at the base, on these, as well as the upper parts; ear with white hairs internally; brown-black externally. Head uniform in colour with the body. Nose to tail, 43 niches; tail, 25 inches; tarsus, (without the nails) 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; ear, 4 inches.

This species is of a brighter tint⁸⁵ than M. giganteus, and more uniform in its colouring than either that species or M. laniger.

The dimensions which I took from another specimen which I imagined to be of the same species, agrees very nearly with those given by Desmarest—I presume it is the original of his description. Length, 57 inches; tail, 30 inches; tarsus, (without the claws) 12 inches: ear, 4 inches 4 lines.

Nail-Bearing Kangaroo

Macropus unguifer.

Macropus unguifer, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, for August 1840.

Form slender, size moderate, tail very long. Fur very short and moderately soft; general colour buff yellow; on the fore part of the body and neck there is a considerable admixture of white hairs, and the head is almost entirely white; the limbs and under parts of the body are also white—or very nearly so. A brownish mark, commencing about the middle of the back, extends backwards over the rump and about four inches along the upper surface of the tail, the remaining portion of the tail is whitish, excepting at the apical portion, where a space, of about six inches in length, is covered with brownish hairs, and the point is provided with a tuft of long black hairs which conceal a nail, with which the tip of the tail is furnished. This nail is of a black colour, thin and hollow beneath, and in fact nearly resembles a finger nail both in texture and form.

Length from nose to root of tail, 25 inches; tail, 26 inches; tarsus, 7 inches; tip of muzzle to ear, 4 inches; ear, 2\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches.

Inhabits the north-west coast of Australia.

Bridled Kangaroo

Macropus frænatus.

Macropus frænatus, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, for August 1840.

The general form of this small Kangaroo is slender, and remarkably elegant; its fur is soft and rather short; general colour of the upper parts brown-grey; under parts white; a narrow white line extends backwards from the back of the head, on each side, over the shoulders, and there joins with the white colouring of the under parts; these lines, therefore, diverge as they recede from the back of the head; the space between them is of a deeper colour than elsewhere, being blackish near the occiput, but becoming gradually paler towards the shoulders; the tail is grizzled with black and white and slightly suffused with blackish at the tip, which is furnished with a small horny tubercle; on the chin is a dusky spot; the throat, fore part of the neck, and chest are pure white, and the belly is greyish; on each side of the muzzle is a white mark, and above this is a somewhat indistinct dusky line; an undefined dusky line is observable on the upper side of the head. The cars are of moderate size, and the hairs on the inner side are white; on the sides of the neck and base of the fore-legs there is a wash of cream colour. The tarsi and fore-legs are slender and almost of white; on the toes some blackish hairs are interspersed with the white, and produce a grizzled appearance.

Length from nose to root of tail, 23 inches; tail, 20 inches; tarsus, 5\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tip of muzzle to ear, 4 inches 2 lines; ear, 2\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; middle toe, 1\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches.

Inhabits the interior of New South Wales.

Crescent Marked Kangaroo

Macropus lunatus.

Macropus lunatus, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for August 1840.

This is a small species, about equal in size to the common hare; its head is short, the ears large, the fore-legs small, the tarsi moderately long and slender. The name, given by Mr. Gould, has reference to a curved white mark observable on the sides of the body a little behind the base of the fore-legs.

The fur is moderately long and very soft; general colour grey; on the neck and shoulders a pale rust-like tint prevails; the under parts are grey-white—the hairs being grey at the base and white at the apex; the fore-legs and tarsi are brown-white, and on the toes there are a few dusky hairs intermixed with the paler hairs; on the chin is a brownish patch and there is a dusky line on the upper surface of the muzzle which is pale grey, inclining to white; an indistinct white line extends backwards from near the angle of the mouth; the ears are furnished with white hairs on the inner side, and are brown externally. Between the curved white mark, before mentioned, and the base of the fore-leg is a dusky patch.

Length from the nose to the root of tail, 18 inches; tarsus, 4\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; from tip of muzzle to ear, 3 inches; ear, 2 inches.

Inhabits the west coast of Australia.

Hare-Like Kangaroo

Macropus leporides.

Macropus leporides, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, for August 1840.

Size about equal to that of a hare. In the character and colouring of the fur this animal remarkably resembles the common hare: the head is rather short and arched, the fore-legs and feet are very small.

The upper parts of the body are variegated with black and cream colour; on the sides of the body a buff-yellow tint prevails; the belly is grey-white, and the chest is of the same tint as the sides of the body; the chin is white; the fore-legs are black at the base, and the fore-feet are mottled with buff and white; the hind-feet are very pale brown or brown-white; a broad buff coloured ring encircles the eye; the tail is of pale greyish, with a slight brownish tint throughout, and the hairs are short and adpressed. The ears are short, white within and greyish externally; on the back of the neck a yellowish or buff tint prevails.

Sometimes a bright rusty hue is observable in most of the parts above described as being of a buff colour.

The foremost incisor of the upper jaw is the largest, and the hinder one the smallest—the last mentioned tooth has one vertical groove, and behind the incisors is a small canine.

Length from nose to root of tail, 19\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tail, 13 inches; tarsus, 4\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; tip of muzzle to ear, 4 inches; ear, 2 inches; middle toe, 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) inch.

Inhabits the interior of Australia.

Subgenus 2, Halmaturus

The species of this section differ from the first in having the tip of the muzzle naked.

Elegant Kangaroo

Macropus elegans.

Macropus elegans, Lambert. Transactions of the Linnæan Society, Vol. VIII., p. 318, Pl. 16.

Colour silvery grey, ears sub-obtuse, fore-feet with live toes.

Length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, 62 inches and \(\frac{7}{10}\)ths; from the tip of the nose to the eye, 2\(\frac{8}{10}\) inches; from the tip of the nose to the hack part of the skull, 5\(\frac{5}{10}\) inches; length of tail, 26\(\frac{2}{10}\) inches; length of ears, 3\(\frac{8}{10}\) inches; length of the hind-leg from the claw to the “knee” (? heel,) 10 inches.

The above description was taken, with a drawing, from a living; Kangaroo brought from New South Wales, and which was formerly in the possession of Mr. Pidcock of Exeter Change.

Mr. Lambert says,

It is distinguished by the settlers in that country by the name of the Silver or Brush Kangaroo, and by the natives is called Ba-ga-ree. It appears to be a very distinct species from the first discovered one, which Dr. Shaw in his General Zoology has named Macropus major, differing from that, not only in colour, but also in being much smaller, and of a more handsome shape. The colour is a beautiful silver-grey. * * * *

Dr. White, who so long resided in New South Wales, informs me that this species is very scarce, and that its habits are very different from those of the common Kangaroo, it being always found solitary, whereas the other is always found in herds of forty or fifty together.

It is to be regretted that Mr. Lambert does not give a more detailed description of the colouring of this animal, for it is evident from the plate, that the upper parts of the body were of a darker colour than the under parts, and that the fore-feet, and anterior half of the hind, are of a blackish colour. I strongly suspect it is the M. Parryi.

White Kangaroo

Macropus albus.

Macropus albus, Gray. Spicilegia Zoologica, Part II., p. 10.

The fur soft, thick, and rather woolly, dirty yellow-white; the soles of the hind-feet bald, black; the ears rather long, reaching rather beyond the front of the eye, ovate, acute; the outer side, the edge, and upper half of the inner side covered with rather long scattered white hairs; the tail thick and short, not reaching to the shoulders, the end perhaps destroyed.

This animal is only provisionally described as a species, as there is only a single specimen of it in the British Museum, without any skull. It may probably prove only an albino variety of some other species, though I am not acquainted with any species as yet described that has such long ears, and so short and so thick a tail; but both these characters may depend upon the manner in which it is stuffed; for the skin before it was stuffed, appears to have been used as a cloak or mat.

The length of the head is 7 inches; of the ears from the outer base to the tip, 3 inches; of the neck and body, 25 inches; of the tail, 15 inches; of the fore-feet, with bones in them, 3 inches; of the hind-feet, with bones in them, to the end of the middle toes, 8\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; and to the end of the outer little toe, 7 inches.

The above is the whole of Mr. J. Gray’s account of M. albus; if its dimensions be compared with those of M. Bennettii, and with a white Kangaroo in the Museum of the Zoological Society, it will be seen there is a close correspondence, excepting in the measurement of the tail, and as the skin upon which M. albus was founded, was perhaps a “cloak or mat,” I think it highly probable that a portion of the tail may have been removed.

The specimen in the Zoological Society’s Museum is not perfectly white, but is of a brown-white colour, somewhat tinted with yellowish; the fur is ashy-grey or brown-grey, next the skin, then tinted with pale brownish yellow, and externally dirty white. Its exact locality is not known; but if it be a variety of M. Bennettii, and of this I have very little doubt, it must be from Van Diemen’s Land, where Mr. Gunn states

milk white or cream coloured Kangaroos exist.

Similar varieties of other species of Marsupials are not very uncommon; I have seen several white, or whitish specimens of Petaurus Taguaniides, and Mr. Gunn speaks of white Opposums which he had seen. I do not think they are true albinos.

Red-Necked Kangaroo

Macropus ruficollis.

Kangurus ruficollis Desmarest. Mamm. p. 274, sp. 426.

Macropus ruficollis, Lesson. Manual de Mamm. p. 226.

Less than M. major. General tint of upper parts and sides of body greyish-brown, grizzled with grey, brown, and white; a pale rusty yellow tint covers the back of the ears at the base, and the back of the neck, the hairs on these parts, however, are grizzled with white; the chin, throat, under parts of the body, and inner side of limbs white; the fur of the belly is grey next the skin with a slight purplish tint; the hairs covering the ears externally, (excepting at the base) are greyish-brown, grizzled with white; a pale rusty tint encircles the eyes, and is most extended in front of them; the lips are white, and a whitish mark runs from the lips backwards beneath the eye; the upper parts of the muzzle are brownish; the tarsi are dirty white, the toes are blackish-grey grizzled with whitish; the fore-feet are brownish, grizzled with white; the hairs on the tail are closely adpressed; on the upper part they are of the same general tint as the body; beneath, dirty yellowish-white.

Length from nose to root of tail, 3 feet 7 inches; tail, 1 foot 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tarsus, (without the claws) 8 inches; fore-legs, about 9 inches; ear, 2\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; nose to ear, 5 inches, 8 lines.

Inhabits King’s Island, Bass’ Straits.

The above description is taken from the specimen in the Museum at Paris. There must be some mistake in the dimensions given by Desmarest, when he says the length of the head and body is 1 foot 10 inches. Fisher says it is from 32 to 34 inches in length; making allowance for the French measure, and the different mode of measuring these dimensions nearly agree with those given by me.

Rusty-Grey Kangaroo

Macropus rufo-griseus.

Kangurus rufo-griseus, Desmarest. Mamm. p. 273 sp. 425.

Upper parts of the body of a rusty-grey colour, the grey however predominates; the under parts differ only in being paler; the extremities of the feet and tail are brown, and the under side of the latter is of the same colour as the upper; hairs of the back rusty at the base, then annulated with whitish, and at the point brown; those of the belly and chest having the white portion less extended. Length from nose to root of tail, 47\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; head, 8\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; ears, about 4 inches 5 lines; tail, 26\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches.

Habitat, New Holland. The above description is from Desmarest.

Mr. Gould brought from New South Wales a species of Kangaroo which agrees very well with the foregoing description in most respects:—its general colour is rusty-brown pencilled with white; (prevailing hue rust colour) fur on back grey at base; beyond of a rust colour, broadly annulated with white near the point; the point itself of each hair black; neck and shoulders almost entirely of a bright rust colour; muzzle deep brown, almost black for about an inch and a half of upper surface; a tolerably distinct white mark on upper lip, runs backward and terminates beneath the eye; a patch of black on the chin; the throat pure white; the under parts of the body are grey-white, the hairs being white externally and grey at the base; fore-legs principally of a bright rust colour; over the paws grizzled with black and rusty-white; fingers black; tarsus with the visible portion of the hairs chiefly white, but they are all brown-black at the base; toes covered with black hairs; tail hoary-grey, (well clothed) a small pencil of black hairs at the tip; at base covered with far of the same character and colour as that on the body; under side of tail dirty yellow-white; ears clothed with blackish hairs externally, excepting at the base, where they assume the grizzled rusty hue of those on the head; internally the ears are well clothed with white hairs, but the tip is narrowly margined with black.

This animal very closely resembles the M. Bennettii in its size and proportions; it is remarkable for the prevailing rusty red hue of the fur,—the hairs on the upper parts being of this colour in the middle.

Macropus Irma

Halmaturus Irma, Jourdan. Comptes Rendu des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences, October 9, 1837, p. 523. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, seconde série, p. 371.

The general form of this new Halmaturus is remarkably elegant: its slender body, and fine and delicate limbs, its tail surmounted by a crest of hairs, and terminated with white, its black and white ears, the form of the head, all combine to give it a most beautiful appearance. Its characters are:—head grey above; cheeks and lips yellowish white; a black spot on the chin; outer surface of the ears brown in front and whitish behind; the inner side of the ears, yellow, but black on the apical portion, the black extends over about one-third of the ear; a brown spot is observed between the ears, and this spot is somewhat prolonged on to the neck: chest, neck, flanks, and outer side of the limbs bright buff yellow; fore and hind-feet yellow; toes brown-black; the greater portion of the tail is grey, blackish towards the apex, and is terminated with white hairs; it has a double crest of hairs, the longer of which is that on the upper surface.

Length from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the tail, 28 inches 5 lines; tail, 24 inches 10 lines; anterior limbs, 4 inches 4 lines; posterior limbs, 17 inches 9 lines; ears, 3 inches 2 lines.

Habitat, Swan River.

The above is a translation of M. Jourdan’s account of this beautiful new species of Kangaroo.

Black-Footed Kangaroo

Macropus manicatus.

Macropus manicatus, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, for October 1840.

This is a beautiful new species from Swan River, remarkable for its jet black fore-feet and anterior half of the tarsus, but more particularly for the abruptness with which the black terminates, causing the feet to appear as if they had been dipped in ink or some other black liquid. It is about the size of the Walabee, or rather larger, for the specimen examined is a female.

General colour of the upper parts deep grey, i. e. grizzled with black and white; chest pale grey; throat, inner side of ears, abdomen, and inner side and fore part of hind-legs, fore-legs, and tarsi, palish fawn-yellow; a mark on the side of the face, extending almost to the ear, is of the same colour: ears externally, and internally, at the tip, as well as the occipital portion of the head, black; fore-feet, anterior half of hind-feet and the apical portion of the tail pure black; upper surface of the head, and back of the neck adjoining the occiput, sooty black, and on the chin is a small black stripe.

The fur is moderately long, and although not decidedly soft, is by no means harsh to the touch: on the back the hairs are slate-grey at the base, brownish in the middle, and black annulated with white beyond; on the sides of the body the general hue is paler, the black being less conspicuous, and there is moreover a slight fulvous tint on these parts, especially in the region of the shoulders. Fur like that of the body extends about eight inches on to the tail; beyond this the hairs assume a more harsh character they are still, however, moderately long, and at the tip their length increases, so that they form a terminal tuft; above, the black hairs covering the apical portion of the tail, extend about eight inches from the tip, but beneath, the black extends more than half the entire length of the tail. The fore-feet are rather small,⁸⁶ and the tarsi are of moderate length.

Length from nose to root of tail, 30 inches; tail, 26 inches; nose to ear, 5 inches; ear, 2\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tarsus, 8 inches 10 lines.

From M. Jourdan’s description, the M. Irma would appear to approach very near to the present species;—in size it very nearly agrees—in fact it seems to differ chiefly in having the tail terminated with white, (and this may be accidental,) and the parts described as black in M. manicatus, are in the M. Irma for the most part of a less deep hue. Perhaps these two will prove to be the same species.

Filander Kangaroo

Macrofus Brunii.

Didelphys Brunii, Linn. Gmel. i., p. 109.

Filander, Le Brun. Voyage par la Moscovie en Perse, et aux Indes Orientales, Vol. II., p. 347 348, Fig. 213.

Following is Le Brun’s account of the Filander, upon which the Didelphys Brunii is founded.

Being at the country house of our General, (at Batavia,) I saw a certain animal called Filander, which was somewhat remarkable. There were many individuals with full freedom, running with some rabbits, which had their holes under a little hillock encircled by a ballustrade. This animal, which I have represented at No. 213, has the hinder-legs much longer than the front, and is nearly of the same size, and has nearly the same fur, as a large rabbit. The head approaches in form to that of a fox, and the tail is pointed: but the most extraordinary circumstance is, that it had a bag-like opening in the belly, into which the young enter, even when they have attained a considerable size. They are often seen with the head and neck thrust out from this bag; when, however, the mother is running, they are not visible, but keep to the bottom of the pouch, since she leaps much.

In the “Voyage de l’Astrolabe”⁸⁷ will be found the following account of an animal found at Port Dory, New Guinea, which M. M. Quoy and Gaimard suppose to be identical with the Filander of Le Brun.

The authors state,

The Papu brought us this young male Kanguroo, which is remarkable for the size and strength of its limbs, and the length of the head, which is much more obtuse than in other Kanguroos. Its anterior extremities as well as the posterior, are robust; the ears are proportionately smaller than in other species. The fur is of a grey-brown colour on the upper parts of the body, and yellowish-grey on the under; the yellow hue is most distinct between the legs. The under surface of the feet is of a pale reddish colour, and the tip of the muzzle is pinkish the eyes are ruddy, and the tail is rather shorter than the body. The total length, including the tail, is about 24\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; the head, 3 inches; from nose to root of tail, 10 inches 11 lines; tail, 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; ears, 1 inch 4 lines; circumference of the body in the middle, 8 inches; length of fore-limbs, 4 inches 4 lines; hind-limbs, 8 inches 8 lines.

The tarsus is represented in the Plate of the full size; its length, with the claws, is 4 inches.

Red-Bellied Kangaroo

Macropus Billardierii.

Kangurus Billardierii, Desmarest. Mammalogie, p. 542, sp. 843.

Macropus rufiventer, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for February 1838, p. 23—and in Annals of Natural History for May 1838, p. 220.

Halmaturus (Thylogale) Tasmanei, Gray. Annals of Natural History for April 1838, p. 108.

“Wallaby” or “Wallabee” of Van Diemen’s Land.

Tail shorter than body; ears short; fur long and rather soft; general tint very dark; on head, upper parts of body, legs and upper part of tail, brown; under parts dirty yellow; lips and tip of chin yellowish white; fore and hind-feet brown, toes deep brown; tail dirty brownish yellow beneath. Hairs of the fur brownish-grey at the base, annulated with brownish-white near the apex, and brown-black at the apex; fur like that of the body covers the basal portion of the tail, on the apical portion the hairs are harsher and somewhat adpressed; ears internally with yellowish white hairs, externally coloured as upper surface of head.

Length from nose to root of tail, 21 inches; tail, 10\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; tarsus, (claws not included) 4 inches 8 lines; ear, 1\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; nose to ear, 3 inches 8 lines. Length of skull, 4 inches 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; width, 2 inches 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; from front of anterior incisor to posterior palate opening, 1 inch 7 lines; width between anterior molars, 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; width between last molar, 9\(\frac{1}{4}\) lines. Longitudinal extent of molars on either side of upper jaw, 1 inch 2 lines.

Habitat, Van Diemen’s Land.

The foregoing description is from my notes made in the Paris Museum, and was drawn up from the original of Desmarest’s account. There can be no doubt it is the same species as that described by Mr. Ogilby and Mr. Gray under the names given at the head of this description. The specimen from which Mr. Ogilby drew up his description of Macropus rufiventer is now before me; it is a fine male and of a larger size than the specimen at Paris—its general colouring is very dark brown, but rather distinctly pencilled with brownish white; on the back the longest hairs of the fur are almost entirely black, and the hairs of ordinary length being black at the tip (brown-white near the tip,) gives to this part a deeper and somewhat blackish hue; on the sides of the body there is a greater admixture of brown; the upper lip is of a dirty yellowish hue, and this tint extends backwards to the angle of the mouth; the chin and throat are of a dirty buff yellow tint; the chest and under parts of the body are rusty yellow; there is scarcely a perceptible difference in the general tint of the fore-legs and feet, and the sides of the body the tarsi are of a very dark-brown colour, inclining to black; the tail is tolerably well clothed with fur, of the same general hue as the back, and at the base of the tail it is also of the same soft texture, but as we recede from the base the fur becomes harsher, and on the apical portion it is very harsh, and of a paler hue; on the under side of the tail it is of a pale-brown colour, and the apical half is destitute of hairs, but covered by scales, as in the rat’s tail—in a younger animal, (agreeing in size with the Paris specimen,) I find the same part tolerably well furnished with stiff hairs, but in parts they are short from having been worn. The ears are short, furnished within with longish rusty-yellow hairs; some hairs of the same colour are observable also on the outer side, next the lower margin; the back of the ear is well clothed with hairs and is of a blackish or dusky hue, rather paler at the base. The head and cheeks are of an uniform dark brownish-grey tint, the hairs on these parts are obscurely grizzled with greyish-white the crown of the head and occiput are of a deeper hue.

Length from nose to root of tail, 25 inches; tail, 14\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tarsus, to base of nails, 5 inches 2 lines; nose to ear, 4 inches 2 lines; ear, 1 inch 8 lines. Height of animal, when in its ordinary half erect position, about 20 inches.

I have examined several specimens of this species, all from Van Diemen’s Land; the colour of the under parts varies from dirty yellow to a rusty or rusty-yellow tint; in some specimens there is a greater admixture of black in the colouring of the upper parts; the short ears with yellowish hair internally, the yellowish belly, and the deep brownish colouring of the upper parts, render it easy to be distinguished; it is totally devoid of the bright rust colour about the sides of the body and limbs, which several Kangaroos of nearly similar size possess. This, the “Wallaby” of Van Diemen’s Land, must not be confounded with the “Wallaby” of New South Wales, (M. ualabatus) which is a distinct though nearly allied species. Mr. Gunn, in his paper before quoted, states that this species is most common near the sea, and on the Islands in Bass’ Straits; he moreover says they are excellent eating, but the smallness of the skins renders them of less value for tanning than the other larger species.

Macropus dorsalis

Halmaturus dorsalis, Gray. In Magazine of Natural History for November 1837, p. 583.

Ears moderately long; tail longer than the body, the latter being measured in a straight line; general tint brownish grey, having a slight pale rusty hue, the occiput, back of neck, and fore-legs, of a bright rust colour; a black longitudinal mark commences on the back of the neck and terminates about half way down the back; on the back of the neck it is not very distinct; chin, throat, and the whole of the under parts of the body and inner side of the limbs white; the fur on these parts is uniform to the root, and not grey at the base as usual, and that on the upper parts of the body is very pale next the skin; a whitish mark runs backward from the upper lip and terminates under the eye; the general tint of the head is rusty grey; ears tolerably well clothed within with long whitish hairs; externally clothed with fur of the same character and colour as that on the top of the head; tarsi whitish at the base, grizzled with white and dark brown in the middle, and the hairs over the toes are of a very dark brown colour almost black; a transverse whitish mark is observable on the haunches; about three inches of the tail, at the base, is covered with fur of the same texture and colour as the body; the rest of the tail is but sparingly clothed, the hairs are very small and rather harsh and do not hide the scales; the general tint is grey; on the under side of the tail the hairs are much longer and more dense, and they are of a dirty pale yellow colour; the fore-foot is rather long and slender.

Length from nose to root of tail, 27 inches; tail, 21 inches; tarsus, (without the claws) 6\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches fore arm, 3 inches 4 lines; from nose to ear, 4 inches 8 lines; ear, 2 inches 5 lines.

Habitat, New South Wales.

The specimen from which this description is taken is also the original of Mr. Gray’s description. Its general colouring is pale, but upon separating the fur of the back, I perceive that it was killed when shedding the fur, (the new hair making its appearance;) no doubt it would have a somewhat deeper hue at other times. This species is closely allied to M. ruficollis and M. rufo-griseus, but is of a smaller size, and is distinguishable by the black line on its back; its colouring and proportions will not admit of its being confounded with the M. Derbianus, another species having a black mark on the back; in that animal, however, it is most distinct on the back of the neck, and extends to the occiput; here, it is most distinct on the back, and does not extend to the occiput.

Eugene Island Kangaroo

Macropus Eugenii.

Kangurus Eugenii, Desmarest. Mammalogie, p. 274, sp. 427.

Macropus Eugenii, Lesson. Manuel de Mammalogie, p. 227.

Halmaturus Thetidis, Geoff. & F. Cuv. Mamm. lvi.

Fur very soft; general colour grey-brown, tinted with rust in the region of the shoulders, the back of the neck and the upper part of the head, as well as the fore-feet; the whitish colour of the under parts of the body rather distinctly separated from the deep colouring of the upper parts; under side of the tail white, slightly tinted with rusty; upper side grey-brown; each of the hairs of the back is grey for the greater portion of its length, and then annulated with brown and whitish, and at the point brown; those on the shoulders and back of the neck, are at first grey, then rusty, followed by white, and at the point rusty again.

Length from nose to root of tail, 23 inches; head, 4 inches 4 lines; tail 13\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches.

Habitat the Island of Eugene on the South Coast of New Holland.

An animal in the Museum of the Zoological Society agrees generally, so well with the foregoing description, which is from Desmarest, that there can be no doubt, I think, as to its being the M. Eugenii. It is from New South Wales, north of Hunter’s River. The general colour of the upper parts is deep grey-brown with a slight rufous tint; over the shoulders, back of neck, and base of fore-legs externally, a bright rust colour prevails, but this tint does not extend on to the head, as stated in Desmarest’s description, nor on to the fore-feet; the upper surface of the head being dusky, the fore part of the arms greyish and the fore-feet brownish; the chin and throat are white, the whole under parts of the body are also white, but less pure; the hind-feet are of an uniform dark brown colour—or very nearly so. The tail is brownish grey above and dirty white beneath, and in parts tinted with brownish; a very small portion of the tail at the base is covered with fur like that of the body; on the remaining portion the hairs are shortish, harsh, and somewhat adpressed; on the sides of the tail the hairs are scanty, and the scales covering the tail are very apparent—the same character is observable in a very young animal of the same species. The ears are tolerably well furnished within with moderately long dirty white hairs; externally they are clothed with fur like that on the top of the head, on the fore part of the ear it is blackish, and on the hinder part greyish; the muzzle is somewhat greyish; and the upper lip is dirty white. Length from nose to root of tail, 22 inches; tail, 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; nose to ear, 4 inches; tarsus, (without the claws) 5\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; ear, 1 inch 10 lines; fore-arm, about 3 inches.

In the young animal before alluded to, and which is scarcely half grown, there is a brown mark along the middle of the tail beneath. It is from the same locality as the adult specimen last described.

Desmarest, in a foot-note accompanying the account of M. Eugenii, says

nous croyons pouvoir rapporter ce nom à un Kanguroo de la collection du Muséum, qui a été étiqueté Kanguroo des îles Saint Pierre, et qui, par sa taille, ressemble à l’espèce trouvée dans ces îles par Lesueur et Péron. Ce Kanguroo est maintenant indiqué comme un jeune de l’espèce à cou roux

(M. rujicollis.)

This same specimen is again referred to by Messrs. Geoffroy and F. Cuvier, in their account of the Halmature Thétis. They say the species to which they give this name has long existed in the Paris Museum, but the resemblance of its colouring to the M. ruficollis caused it to be mistaken for the young of that species.

Short-Tailed Kangaroo

Macropus brachiurus.

Kangurus brachiurus, Quoy and Gaimard. Voyage de découvertes de l’Astrolabe, Zoologie, Tom. I., p. 114, Pl. 19.

Ears small, rounded, hidden at the base by the long hair of the head; tail very short; fur long and glossy, and moderately soft—general hue deep brown, blackish on the middle of the back, on the head and shoulders a rusty-yellow tint prevails; the whole of the under parts of the body are dirty yellow; the fore and hind-feet are brown; the tail exhibits scales like that of a rat, and is furnished with short stiff hairs, (not sufficiently numerous to hide the scales) which are of a brown colour on the upper parts, and dirty white on the under; the ear is covered externally with hair like that of the head, internally there are long yellowish hairs.

On the upper parts of the body the fur is grey at the base, broadly annulated with bright yellow near the apex, and black at the apex; the longer silky hairs are almost totally black; on the sides of the body the hairs are broadly annulated with pale yellow near the tip, and at the tip they are brownish; the hairs of the belly are grey at the base and yellow externally.

Length from nose to root of tail, 18 inches; tail, 7 inches 9 lines; nose to ear, 3 inches; ear, 1 inch 2 lines; tarsus, (claws not included) 3 inches 4\(\frac{3}{4}\) lines.

Habitat, King George’s Sound.

The above description is taken from the original specimen in the Paris Museum; it greatly resembles the Hypsiprymnus murinus. The length of its skull, according to the figure given in M. M. Quoy and Gaimard’s work, is 3 inches 4 lines.

Banded Kangaroo

Macropus fasciatus.

Kangurus fasciatus, Peron et Lesueur. Voyage aux Terres Australes, Tom. I., p. 114, and atlas. Pl. 27.

Kangurus fasciatus, Desmarest Mammalogie, sp. 428, p. 274.

“Kanguroo elegant,” Cavier. Coll. du Mus.

Halmaturas elegans, Règne Animal i., p. 187.

This beautiful little animal is about the size of the common rabbity and in the general colour and texture of the fur nearly resembles the common hare. The tail is moderately long, the ears are rather short; fur long and soft; numerous long silky white hairs, interspersed with the ordinary fur, on the upper parts of the body; the fur on the back is deep brown-grey at the base, white towards the apex, and rusty-yellow shaded into dark brown at the apex; on the hinder half of the back, are about twelve or thirteen, not very defined, transverse black bands; each band is bordered above with white, and between the white and the next band a rusty-yellow tint is observable; the throat, and under parts of the body are white; the chin, muzzle, and a space round the eye, are yellowish-brown; tarsus and outer side of legs tinted with yellow; the hairs on the fore-feet, and those covering the base of the toes of the hinder-feet, are whitish; the tail is covered with short adpressed grizzled grey and dirty white, or in parts black and white hairs; the under side is dirty white; about 1\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches of the apical portion is covered with longer black hairs; ears with white hairs externally coloured like the head.

Length from nose to root of tail, 17\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; tail, 10 inches 8 lines; tarsus, (claws not included) 4 inches; ear, 1\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; nose to ear, 3 inches; fore-legs about 3 inches 2 lines.

This description is taken from the original specimen in the Museum at Paris.

The Banded Kangaroo is found at Dirck Hartog’s Island, and on one or two neighbouring islands in Shark’s Bay, on the west coast of Australia. It is said to inhabit the impenetrable low thickets, formed of a species of Mimosa, which are found in those islands; from these bushes they cut away the lower branches and spines so as to form galleries communicating one wth another, and where they take refuge in time of danger. The females bring forth but one young at a time.

Although abundant in the islands of Shark’s Bay, Peron states that none were to be found on the mainland. These little Kangaroos, like all those feeble animals which have neither the power of attack nor of defence, are, like the hares, extremely timid. The slightest noise caused them to take flight to the thick brushwood in which their galleries are constructed, and where it is impossible to pursue them—hence, although very common, they are difficult to procure.

The flesh of these animals is said to resemble that of the rabbit, but has a slight aromatic flavour, arising probably from the nature of the plants on which they feed, nearly all of which are fragrant.

At the time that Peron visited the islands all the females carried young in their pouch, and the courage with which they sought to save their offspring was truly admirable. Although wounded, they flew with the young in the pouch, and never left them, until, overcome with fatigue and loss of blood, they could no longer carry them; they then stopped, and squatting themselves on the hind-legs helped the young to get out of the pouch by means of the fore-feet, and sought to place them in a situation favourable for retreat.

Subgenus 3, Petrogale, Heteropus

Petrogale, Gray. Heteropus, Jourdan.

Mr. Gray⁸⁸ defines this group thus:—

Muzzle bald, distinct. Canine teeth, none; the upper cutting teeth are equal; front rather longest, and incurved; the hinder one hatchet shaped, dilated at the top, and notched in the centre, (scarcely folded.) The tail cylindrical, covered with long, rather rigid hairs, forming a tuft at the tip.

Type, Macropus penicillatus, Gray.

Nearly at the same time that the above characters appeared in the work quoted, M. Jourdan characterized a genus under the name of Heteropus, in a paper which was brought before the “Académie des Sciences.”⁸⁹ This genus I feel no doubt is identical with Petrogale; M. Jourdan’s characters are:—Legs moderately long; tarsi short and thick, covered with bushy hairs, the under surface broad and destitute of hairs, but covered with flattened corneous tubercles; third and fourth toes furnished with nails like those of a dog.

Mr. Bennett, however, has the credit of having first pointed out the characters of this section. (See Proc. Zool. Soc. for January 1835.)

The Kangaroos of this section, I have reason to believe, are confined to rocky and mountainous districts, and display great activity in leaping from point to point on the ledges of the rocks. Their broad feet, covered with minute tubercles beneath, giving a roughness to the surface, combined with the more compact form of the body, and the bushy tail, are well adapted to such habits. The tarsi are certainly shorter than usual in the Kangaroos and more densely clothed with hairs—beyond these characters I can perceive none in which the species of the present section can be distinguished from the preceding. In the structure of the incisor and molar teeth, and in the form of the skull, they do not differ more than do the various species of Halmaturus from each other, nor so much as do the species of the first section.

The Macropus robustus of Mr. Gould, which I shall proceed to describe, possesses the short, broad feet, having the sole rough, as in M. penicillatus, but its tail is not bushy: the hair is short and adpressed, as in other Kangaroos, hence this species is intermediate in its characters between the Halmaturi and the Petrogales.

Strong-Limbed Kangaroo

Macropus robustus.

Macropus (Petrogale) robustus, Gould. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for August 1840.

Size rather less than Macropus major; tarsi proportionately shorter; the claws, or nails, short; fore-legs large and very strong; fur rather short and harsh, and having a somewhat shaggy appearance, especially about the head; general colour slate grey, obscurely washed with brownish; the tarsi brown behind, and gradually shaded into black on the fore part; toes black; fore-feet and wrists black; upper side of arm brownish; hind-legs somewhat sooty, but pale on the inner side especially near the heel; head nearly uniform in colour with the body, slightly suffused with blackish at the tip of the muzzle on each side; a narrow white line is observable around the angle of the mouth; lower lip white, and there is a black patch on the chin; the throat and fore part of the neck are whitish; the under parts of the body are a trifle paler than the upper parts; the tail is brown above and pale brown beneath. The fur of this animal is of a palish slate grey next the skin; on the upper parts of the body it is tinted with brownish externally, and on the outer side of the thighs a slight purplish-rust tint is visible. The female is much smaller than the male and of a paler colour; its general hue is silvery grey; on the back is a faint purplish brown hue; the belly is nearly white, the cheeks are hoary, (i. e. a mixture of pale grey and white); on the chin is a blackish patch; the tail is dirty white, slightly tinted with brownish on the upper side; the legs are paler than the body; the fore-feet are brown; toes nearly black; the hind-feet are pale but the toes are brown-black.

Length from tip of nose to root of tail, 47 inches; tail, 25\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; heel to end of toes, 11 inches; ear to tip of muzzle, 8 inches; length of ear, 3 inches 7 lines. The female measures from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, 33 inches; tail, 26 inches; tarsus, 10 inches 2 lines. These dimensions are taken from unmounted shins, some of them therefore can only be regarded as approximations. The total length of the animals in all probability should be rather more than here mentioned.

Mr. Gould discovered this fine new species in the interior of New South Wales.

Heteropus albogularis⁹¹

In this species the tail is said to be of equal thickness throughout, strong, and covered with harsh hairs; the fur is woolly, excepting on the extremity of the haunches; on the head is a longitudinal brown line; the cheeks are whitish; the ears are black externally, and yellow within; the throat is white, and the chest and belly are of a rusty colour; the neck and upper parts of the back are grey; and the extremity of the limbs and tail are deep brown; the last is terminated with white.

The dimensions, reduced to English measure, are as follows:—Total length, 51 inches 4 lines; forelegs, 4\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches; hind-legs, 11 inches 10 lines; body, 23 inches 9 lines; tail, 22 inches 1 line; tarsi, 3 inches 2 lines; skull, 4 inches 4 lines.

Inhabits the mountains south-east of Sydney.

In many respects M. Jourdan’s description agrees with M. penicillatus, but that is remarkable for its bushy tail, a character not pointed out by M. Jourdan; it moreover has a white stripe on the chest, and has no white at the tip of the tail,—the last character is probably an accidental one.

In Mr. Gould’s collection, are specimens of a Kangaroo from Western Australia, which very nearly resemble the M. penicillatus, differing only in being rather smaller, in having the tail rather less bushy, the dark band on the sides of the body (which is margined above with white) is more distinct, and there is no white patch on the chest—I doubt their being specifically distinct.

Short-Eared Rock Kangaroo

Macropus brachiotis.

Macropus (Petrogale) brachiotis, Gould. Proc, Zool. Soc. for October 1840.

This is a species from Swan River, which is closely allied to the M. penicillatus, but differs in being of a smaller size, in having the colouring of the fur paler, the tail rather less bushy, and in wanting the black flank mark; the ears, moreover, are smaller in proportion and less pointed.

Fur rather short, and harsh to the touch; general tint grey, slightly washed with rusty brown—the latter tint is more distinct towards the sides of the body; under parts and inner side of limbs dirty yellowish white; feet brown; tarsi grey-brown; upper surface of head palish brown; occiput dusky; upper lip dirty white, and a mark of the same colour runs backwards, from near the angle of the mouth, under the eye: near the base of the fore-leg is a brown patch. Tail well clothed with harsh hairs; those on the upper surface of the tail are nearly of the same general tint as the fur of the body; on the under side they are pale-brown; the apical half of the tail is furnished with long bushy sooty-black hairs. The ears are small and pointed.

Length from nose to root of tail, 21 inches; tail, 28\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; tarsus, 5 inches; ear, 1 inch 11 lines; nose to ear, 3 inches 8 lines.

Besides the foregoing Kangaroos, there are certain species which inhabit New Guinea, the characters of which not being published, I am unable to introduce in this work. These Kangaroos, however, possess the power of climbing trees, and have been associated under the generic title Dendrolagus⁹²—I presume their extremities are considerably modified to suit them to such habits, and they no doubt form an interesting link between the true Kangaroos and the Phalangers.

Phalangistidæ

At first sight no two animals appear more opposite than a Kangaroo and a Phalanger, and yet when we compare them carefully together, part with part, we cannot help being convinced that a close affinity exists between them. Like the Kangaroos they have four true molars on either side of each jaw, with a more or less compressed molar in front of them, and there are two large horizontal incisors in the lower jaw the structure of the molars—in some at least—is very similar, and they have the same two toes on the hinder foot united. They resemble the Kangaroo-Rats in possessing a small canine in the upper jaw. The nasal portion of the skull is shorter, and the cranial portion longer than in the true Kangaroos, but as regards the form of the skull, as well as in possessing a canine, the Kangaroo-Rats afford a connecting link.

All the Phalangers are nocturnal in their habits; they live in trees and are expert climbers, though not active in their movements. During the day they remain concealed in the hollows of trees, but about twilight they quit these hiding and sleeping places, and climb amongst the branches of the trees to seek their food, which consists of the young buds, leaves and fruits; these it would appear are more easy of digestion or more nutritious, than the food of the Kangaroos, for the stomach of the present animals is more simple. M. M. Quoy and Gaimard state, that the Phalangers of the Islands north of New Holland feed upon aromatic fruits, but when some specimens they had in confinement could not procure this food, they did not refuse cooked meat. Their flesh is eaten by the natives, and is said to have a good flavour. In Van Diemen’s Land, they are said to feed chiefly on the leaves of the Eucalypti, and Mr. Gunn remarks, that orchards in country places suffer sometimes from the Opossums eating the leaves and young branches of the trees.

The hinder-feet of these animals are always furnished with a large opposable thumb which is nailless, besides which there are four well-developed toes, all armed with large compressed, curved claws; the two innermost of these toes are joined together almost to the extremity; they are rather shorter than the other two toes. On the fore-feet are five well-developed toes, which, like those of the hind-feet, are armed with strong, compressed, curved claws; the innermost toe is the shortest, and the three centralones are the longest.

In the various species comprised in the Phalangistidæ we find certain modifications both in their dentition and external characters, upon which genera, and subgenera have been founded. They are divided into three genera: those which have a large membrane extended from the sides of the body, and joined to the fore and hind-legs, as in the flying Squirrels, and which enables them to sail in the air like a parachute (but not to fly) constitute the genus Petaurus. To those which have no such membrane, and have a prehensile tail, the generic term Phalangista⁹³ (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire,) is now restricted; and thirdly, we have the genus Phascolarctos, containing only one species, (the Koala) which is at once distinguished by its want of tail.

The constant teeth in the genus Phalangista are:—Incisors, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\).

The anterior pair of incisors of the upper jaw are lower than the rest, separated at the base, and meet at the apex; the canines are sometimes of moderate size, but generally small, conical and slightly compressed; the false molar, which is in contact with the series of true molars, is in some species somewhat compressed, and presents a nearly even cutting edge, in others it is as broad as long, and obtusely pointed; the true molars are nearly of a quadrate form, and present each four blunt tubercles; the posterior molar is always rather less than the rest; the incisors of the lower jaw, which are in the same nearly horizontal direction as the symphysis menti, are long, pointed, and have the inner and outer edges sharp. Besides these teeth, which are found in all the species, there are some false molars in both jaws which vary both in number and size. In P. ursina, there is one canine-like false molar, in front of the contiguous series of molars on each side of the upper jaw; of two very small false molars in front of the series in the lower jaw, one is placed close to the incisors, and the second close to the larger molars. In a skull before me, (of the same animal) I find three of these small teeth on one side of the lower jaw and two on the other; the number of these teeth on either side of each jaw, situated in the upper jaw between the canines and the continuous series of molars, and in the lower jaw between the incisors and the foremost well-developed molar, in other species of Phalangista may be thus expressed,—in P. chrysorrhos and P. maculata \(\frac{1}{2}\), in P. cavifrons \(\frac{2}{3}\), P. vulpina \(\frac{1}{1}\) or \(\frac{1}{2}\), and in P. Cookii \(\frac{3}{2}\).

The genus Phalangista may be divided into two subgenera, Phalangista proper, and Cuscus. The species of the former subgenus inhabit the continent of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land, and those of the subgenus Cuscus, appear to be confined to some of the Islands North of New Holland.

The species of Phalangista, (using the term in its restricted sense) have the tail well clothed with hair, often bushy, excepting on the under surface of the apical portion; the muzzle is longer and more attenuated than in Cuscus, and the molar teeth are proportionately smaller; their fur, moreover, is less woolly and also less dense, and the ears are larger. In the species of Cuscus, the tail is destitute of hair, excepting at the base, and covered with tubercles, and the ears are small. In Phalangista the lower incisors are nearly vertical, whereas in Cuscus, the symphysis menti forms an obtuse angle with the lower edge of the rami of the jaw, and the incisors are directed upwards and forwards, as in the Koala.

In the genus Petaurus, (the flying Phalangers,) there are three very evident modifications of dentition observable, and the species have been divided into three subgenera accordingly.—Petaurus proper, Belideus (Waterh.) and Acrobata (Desm.) P. Taguanoides may be regarded as the type of the first of these sections. Its dentition is:—

Incisors, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 34.

The incisors of the upper jaw are arranged laterally, the three on either side being placed close together; the two foremost are separated from one another by a space about equal to their diameter; they are narrow at the base, and expanded and somewhat compressed above the base. The next incisor on each side is larger than the last or posterior one, and about half the height of the firsts narrow at the base, and wide and truncated at the apex. The third incisor is small and but slightly wider at the tip than at the base. The canine is very small and conical. The first false molar is minute and conical, separated by a considerable space from the canine and also from the molars, and has but one fang. The next two false molars have two fangs; they are broad at the base and compressed at the tip; the foremost presents an anterior larger, and a posterior small compressed tubercle; the third is divided at the tip into three compressed points. The true molars are nearly square, but rather longer than broad; the crown of each, with the exception of the last, presents four angular tubercles. In the last molar there are but three of these tubercles, two in front and one behind. The incisors of the lower jaw are large, nearly cylindrical at the base; beyond this, they are somewhat dilated, flattened, pointed, and have two sharp edges. There are no minute detached false molars in the lower jaw. The single false molar on each side is placed close to the true molars, compressed in front and expanded behind; a small anterior tubercle is separated from the body of the tooth by a slight transverse incision. The true molars resemble those of the upper jaw, excepting that they are narrower, and the last molar has four tubercles instead of three.

The skull of P. Taguanoides differs from the skulls of the species belonging to Belideus, in being smaller in proportion to the bulk of the animal, in having the zygomatic arches stronger and flattened at the sides, in being deeply concave between the orbits, instead of flat, and in having the palate deeply emarginated behind—it terminates, in, fact opposite the second false molar, whereas in Belideus it terminates behind the line of the posterior molars. The nasal bones are much shorter, and the strength of the skull and lower jaw indicate a greater power in the muscles connected with mastication.

Section 2. Belideus.—Dentition: Incisors, \(\frac{6}{2}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\); true molars, \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 40. The anterior incisors of the upper jaw are large, somewhat suddenly dilated immediately above their insertion in the intermaxillaries, and assuming a triangular form. In P. flaviventer they are broader than in either P. sciureus or P. breviceps. The next incisor on each side is smaller than the posterior one, narrow at the base, and broad at the apex. The, third incisor is broad, and has a sharp incurved cutting edge. The canine is tolerably large; separated by a small space on either side from the false molars and the incisors, compressed and pointed, and its anterior and posterior edges are sharp; the apex projects beyond the level of either of the molars. The first molar on each side is rather large, broad, compressed and pointed, has a very faint indication of an anterior and posterior lobe, and two distinct fangs, (which is not the case in the small and cylindrical corresponding tooth in Petaurus Taguavioides.) The second false molar is small, short, and compressed, and has a minute anterior lobe. This tooth is separated by a considerable space from the first false molar, and by a narrow space from the third. The latter touches the first true molar, is narrow in front, and consists chiefly of one triangular and pointed tubercle. The first true molar on each side is considerably larger than the following molars, each of which is smaller than the preceding, so that the last is not equal in bulk to one half of the first. With the exception of the last, all the true molars possess four somewhat blunt and rounded tubercles, and in general appearance very much resemble the corresponding teeth of a Squirrel. The last molar has but three tubercles, two in front and one behind.

The incisors of the lower jaw are long, compressed, and pointed, and have the upper and lower edges sharp; they are almost horizontal in their direction, being but slightly curved upwards. Next follows on each side a series of four small false molars, the last of which has two fangs, whereas the others appear to have but one. The true molars nearly resemble those of the upper jaw, though they are narrower and longer. The first has a large irregular anterior lobe, which is higher than the posterior portion of the tooth, which is divided into two tubercles; the three posterior molars have each four tubercles.

Besides the points of distinction, already alluded to, between the species of the present section and the preceding, there are other characters which cannot be considered unimportant. The space occupied by the grinding teeth of the upper jaw, compared with the space between the last incisor and the first true molar in the species of Belideus, is much less than in Petaurus. In Belideus the molars occupy a space equal to rather more than two-thirds of that between the incisors and first true molar; whereas, in Petaurus, the four last molars occupy more space than that which extends from them to the incisors. There is a corresponding difference in the lower jaw. In Petaurus the molars are very nearly equal in size, whereas in Belideus, they decrease considerably from the first molar to the last. In Petaurus, again, there are five molars on each side of the lower jaw opposed to six in the upper jaw, all of which are fitted for the mastication of the food; whilst in Belideus the molar corresponding to the first on either side of each jaw in Petaurus is so small, and its crown is so low that it cannot be used in mastication. The comparatively large size of the canines, and the series of small teeth in front of the molars, (which I always find present,) will also serve to distinguish the species of the present section from the preceding, where the upper margin of the ramus of the lower jaw somewhat suddenly descends in front of the molars, and the coronoid process is comparatively broad.

Petaurus sciureus may be regarded as the type of this section, which also contains P. flaviventer and P. breviceps.

In the third section, which is the subgenus Acrobata of Desmarest, the incisors are \(\frac{6}{2}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\); true molars, \(\frac{3\ \cdot\ 3}{3\ \cdot\ 3}\) = 36. The incisors resemble those of Belideus; the canines are well developed, long, pointed, and recurved, placed close to the intermaxillary suture, and even encroaching slightly on the intermaxillary bone. The three false molars of the upper jaw have each two fangs, they are compressed, sharply pointed, and, viewed laterally, present a triangular form.⁹⁴ The first and second are about equal in size, and larger than the third, the apex of which projects beyond the level of the crowns of the true molars. Between the first and second false molars on each side there is a narrow space; the third molar is placed close to the true molars; these, as well as those of the under jaw, resemble the true molars of Belideus; there is, however, one less on each side of both jaws. The incisors of the lower jaw also resemble those in Belideus. Behind these incisors there are two minute teeth on each side, which are followed by two sharply pointed false molars, the foremost of which is the larger, and the apex of the second is raised above the plane of the true molars.

The difference in the form of the false molar teeth pointed out, together with the reduced number of true molars,⁹⁵ the slenderness of the zygomatic arch, combined with the imperfect state of the palate, will serve to distinguish the species of the present section from the preceding. Externally the P. pygmæus (which is the type of M. Desmarest’s subgenus) may be distinguished by its distichous tail.

Section, or Subgenus 1. Cuscus

Phalangers with the tail destitute of hair, excepting at the base.

Yellow-Rumped Phalanger

Phalangista chrysorrhos.

Equal to the wild cat (Felis catus) in size; muzzle short, upper part on the same line with the forehead; ears very short, hidden by the fur and covered throughout with hair; tail equal to the body and neck in length, covered with fur above and on the sides for about two thirds of its length; the remaining portion naked, wrinkled, and of a yellowish colour; fur short, close and woolly; the longer silky hairs of the same colour as the ordinary fur; the fur on the head is of a pale ashy-grey colour, but that on the ears is whitish; all the upper parts of the body, the flanks, and the outer side of the limbs are ashy-grey, more or less inclining to blackish; the rump and the upper part of the tail are of a golden yellow tint, brighter in the adults than in young individuals; inner sides of the limbs and the under parts of the neck are white, the chest is also white, and this colour extends along the belly; the white is separated from the ashy colour which covers the flanks by a black band in adult specimens, but in the young this band is less distinct; the region of the pouch is of a rusty tint; the feet are of a bright rust colour; the tip of the nose brown; the claws yellowish brown, and the hairless portion of the tail is yellow.

In full grown specimens of this species the head and body measure about 23 inches, and the tail is 13 inches.

This species inhabits Amboina.

Spotted Phalanger

Phalangista maculata.

In size equal to the domestic cat; tail nearly equal to the head and body in length; the fur is extended on the upper surface for about half its length, the remaining portion is naked, covered with wrinkles, and of a yellow colour; the ears are hidden, short, round, and covered with hairs throughout; the muzzle is very short, and the forehead is arched; the fur harsh, short and woolly; the longer interspersed hairs are very thinly scattered. In both sexes, and at all ages, the fur is irregularly spotted with brown and dirty white; in the young the spots are always less defined, owing to the interspersed hairs being longer; the hairs covering the face are harsh, and of a yellowish or whitish colour; on the head and the sides of the neck the hairs are grizzled with grey and whitish; and the tuft which covers the ears is generally whitish; the chin, all the under parts of the body, and the inner side of the limbs, are pure white, generally immaculate; the feet are of a very bright rusty tint in the adults, and white in the young; the hairy portion of the tail is usually without spots, of a pure white colour; the claws are yellow.

The hairs which project beyond the ordinary fur are often very long in the young animal, and are generally blackish over the white spots, and whitish over the brown. Very young individuals are sometimes entirely grey.

Length from nose to root of tail, 18 inches; tail, 15 inches. The dimensions of some specimens exceed those here given.

This species lives upon trees, and inhabits the Islands of Amboina and New Guinea; its flesh is of good flavour, and is eaten by the natives. It is subject to great variation in its colouring.

Hollow-Fronted Phalanger

Phalangista cavifrons.

In size equal to the common rabbit; ears not hidden by the fur of the head, hairy within but naked without; forehead concave; tail equal in length to the body only; fur compact and woolly, white in the male sex, in aged individuals tinted with yellow; naked portions of the feet and tail, as well as the tip of the muzzle, whitish; the iris of the eye is whitish and the pupil is linear and black. The female has a dusky longitudinal mark on the back, which commences on the forehead, and terminates before it reaches the rump; the colour of this mark is always darker than that of other parts, and is generally chestnut-brown; the general tint of the fur is variable; in the adults it is yellowish-brown, hazel, or greyish; in the young it is rusty-grey, sometimes silvery or whitish; the chin, and all the under parts of the body, as well as the inner side of the limbs, are always white slightly tinted with grey; the region of the pouch Is rust coloured.

Full grown individuals are about 21 inches in length, without including the tail, which measures 15 inches.

Even when young the female is distinguishable by the dusky line on the back.

This species inhabits the Islands of Timor and Amboina.

Section 2. Phalangista Proper

Tail well clothed with fur, and more or less dense, excepting the extreme point, and part of the apical portion beneath, the extent of which varies somewhat, according to the species.

Phalangista fuliginosa.

P. fuliginosa, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for September 1831, p. 135.

The general colour of this animal is almost uniform brown-black; the chest is bright brown inclining to rust colour; the under parts of the body and of the tail at the base are blackish brown. The fur on the back is pale brown next the skin. The size and proportions are those of P. vulpina.

Cuvier’s Phalanger

Phalangista Cuvieri, Gray MSS.

Cookii, F. Cuv. et Geoff. Mamm. Plate xlv.

This Phalanger is of an ashy-grey colour on all the upper parts of the body and at the base of the tail; the remainder of the tail is entirely black; all the under parts of the body are yellowish white, rather deeper on the abdomen and sides of the cheeks; on the chest is a longitudinal brown mark, and the hairs on this part are less woolly than elsewhere. All the naked parts are flesh coloured. Length about 1 foot; head, 4 inches; tail, 9 inches.

Rather less than Phalangista vulpina, the general colour much paler; ears larger, tail less bushy; the upper surface of the head and the back are grey pencilled with white, the sides of the body are brown-white, slightly tinted with yellow; the under parts of the body are dirty white; on the chest is a rusty patch; the limbs are externally of a pale ash colour, the feet are blackish; about three inches of the tail at the base is coloured as the body, and the remaining portion is blackish; about four inches of the apical portion, beneath, is naked, and the extreme point is entirely destitute of hair. The muzzle, as far back as the eye, is blackish; the cheeks faintly tinted with yellow. The ears are very long and narrow, of a pale flesh colour, nearly naked on the inner side; externally they are furnished with woolly fur like that of the body, but of a smoky black colour, excepting near the outer margin, where they are of a dirty white colour; the apical portion (a space of about 4 lines) is naked, and a narrow naked space extends down the outer margin. All the fur of the body is whitish at the base. Length from nose to root of tail, 16 inches 6 lines; tail, 13 inches 6 lines; nose to ear, 3 inches 2 lines; ear, 2 inches 3 lines.

The above description is taken from a specimen in the British Museum, which certainly appears to be the same species as that figured in M. M. Geoffrey and F. Cuvier’s work, under the name of P. Cookii, but this name has been long used for a very different animal. The present species very nearly agrees with the P. vulpina, but I am inclined to agree with Mr. J. Gray that it is distinct, and have therefore adopted his MS. name.

Yellow-Footed Phalanger

Phalanglsta xanthopus.

Phalangista xanthopus, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for September 1831, p. 135.

Ears long and somewhat pointed, nearly naked within; externally, densely clothed with fur like that of the head, but for the most part of a white colour, on the fore part of the base, however, the fur is black; the apex and space near the outer margin are but sparingly clothed; the tail is scarcely as long as the body, covered with fur of nearly the same character as that of the body, but rather less dense, very thick and bushy at the base, and tapering somewhat suddenly to the apex; the fur of the body is very long, somewhat woolly and rather soft; its general tint is deep ashy grey, obscurely mottled with white; the longest hairs on the back are black, and as they are tolerably abundant they give to that part a deeper hue; a narrow space around the eye, and the muzzle are dusky; the head is of a paler hue than the body; the cheeks are whitish, obscurely tinted with yellow; the chin is blackish on each side; the throat, under parts of the body, and inner side of the limbs, are dirty white; a small rusty patch is observable on the chest; the feet are pale, slightly tinted with yellow, but the toes of the fore-feet are somewhat suffused with brown; the tail is of the same tint at the base as the body; in the middle it is black, and a space, of about two inches in length, at the apex is white nearly three inches of the apical portion beneath, and the extreme point are naked; the hairs of the moustaches are black; the claws are of a very pale horn colour.

Length from nose to root of tail, 16 inches; tail, 10 inches 6 lines; nose to ear, 2 inches 9 lines; ear, 1 inch 8 lines; tarsus, 2 inches; fore-foot, 1 inch 1 line.

This species inhabits “the interior of Australia, from Tron-Bark Range, near the Glenelg River.” The authority for this Habitat is the Catalogue of the Australian Museum, published at Sydney in 1837.

The specimen from which the foregoing description is taken, is also the original of Mr. Ogilby’s description. Like Phalangista vulpina, and P. fuliginosa, this species has long ears, and a very bushy tail, it is however, of a smaller size than either of these species, being scarcely equal to a rabbit in size, the tail is rather shorter in proportion, and decreases in diameter more suddenly from the base to the apex; its colouring is, moreover, different, being black in the middle and white at the apex.

Canine Phalanger

Phalangista canina.

Phalangista canina, Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for December 1836, p. 191–2.

Ears short and rounded, nearly naked within; externally furnished at the base with fur of the same character as that of the head, and of a blackish hue, but towards the posterior margin whitish; tail very bushy, nearly equal to the body in length; fur moderately long, dense, and somewhat woolly, general tint rather deep brownish-grey, grizzled with whitish; the hairs on the upper parts of the body being annulated with that colour near the apex; chin brownish on either side; the throat, chest, (with the exception of a narrow brownish longitudinal mark in the middle,) under parts of the body and inner side of the limbs dirty white; a narrow space round the eye, and the muzzle are dusky; the feet are blackish; a small portion of the tail at the base is coloured as the body, the thick bushy fur on all the remaining portion is black; about one-third of the apical portion of the tail, and the extreme point are naked; moustaches black; claws of the feet pale horn colour.

Length from nose to root of tail, 22 inches; tail, about 13\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; from tip of nose to ear, 3\(\frac{1}{2}\) inches; ear, about 1 inch 2 lines; tarsus, 3\(\frac{1}{4}\) inches; fore-foot, 2 inches 2 lines.

The specimen from which the above description is drawn, and which is the only one I have seen, is the original of Mr. Ogilby’s description, and was procured in New South Wales, in the country beyond Hunter’s River, about eighty miles north of Sydney. It is about the same size as Phalangista vulpina, and has the same thick bushy tail, but may at once be distinguished from that species by its short rounded ears; the cheeks, moreover, want the yellow tint which is always found in P. vulpina.

Section 3. Pseudocheirus

Pseudocheirus, Ogilby.

Phalangers with the tail less densely clothed with hair than in the Phalangers proper; the apical portion naked beneath; fore-feet with the two inner toes on a different plane to the three outer, and slightly opposed to them.

To this section belongs the P. Cookii, P. viverrinus, and perhaps also the P. nana. Mr. Gray applies the name Hepoona to this section; it had however previously received from Mr. Ogilby the name Pseudocheirus.

Genus Petaurus

Phalangers with a membrane extending from limb to limb, and with the tail densely clothed with fur throughout.

Subgenus 1. Petaurus proper

Peron’s Petaurus

Petaurus Peronii.

Petaurista Peronii, Desmarest. Nouveau Dict, d’Hist. Nat. 2d Edit., Tom. xxv., p. 404.

Petaurista Peronii, Desmarest. Mammalogie, sp. 420, p. 270.

General tint of the body above, brown; beneath, white; head brown, particularly around the eyes muzzle tinted with yellowish; ears much pointed, brown above, white on the lower part, and this colour is extended somewhat on to the cheeks; chin brown; flank membranes above, brown variegated with grey; beneath, and the outer edge of the fore-feet, extending to the end of the fingers, of a brown colour; rump brown and somewhat tinted with yellowish; the thighs externally, and hinder-feet, of a deep brown colour; tail cylindrical, rather longer than the body, of a brown colour, excepting at the tip, which is yellowish-white; the throat, inner side of the limbs, belly, and under side of the flanks yellowish-white.

Length of head and body, 8 inches 2 lines; tail, 9 inches 6 lines—French measure.

Habitat, New Holland.

The above is a Translation of the description given by Desmarest, who adds, that the flank membrane, instead of being extended as far as the wrist, as in P. Taguanoides, or on to the outer finger, as in P. sciurea, terminates at the elbow.

In the Museum at Paris I found a specimen which agreed so precisely with the description just given, both as to colour and size, as to lead me to suppose it is the original of M. Desmarest’s account. It appeared to me to be a young individual of P. Taguanoides, its length in English measurement is 9 inches; tail, 11 inches; ear, 10\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines. The ear is densely clothed with fur on the outer side, as in P. Taguanoides. The character noticed by Desmarest in the flank membrane I cannot put much faith in, for in all the specimens of P. Taguanoides examined by me the flank membrane terminates at the elbow, and not at the wrist; and as regards the white tip to the tail, I may remark, that in P. breviceps I have seen specimens in which the tail is so coloured, though it is not a general character in that species. On the underside of the stand of this specimen was written “Phalangista macroura.”

Subgenus 2. Belideus

Yellow-Bellied Petaurus

Petaurus flaviventer.

Petaurista flaviventer, Desmarest. Mammalogie, p. 269.

Didelphis Petaurus, Shaw. Gen. Zool. Vol. i., p. 496.

Ears long and pointed, nearly naked, excepting externally at the base, where they are tolerably well clothed with fur; tail considerably longer than the head and body taken together, bushy and thickest at the base; fur very long, loose, and soft; general colour greyish-brown, sometimes with a yellowish tint; head dusky, very dark around the eye, and on the muzzle and chin; there is also a dark patch at the base of the ear; a broad blackish mark extends from the occiput along the middle of the back; the limbs externally, feet, and flank membrane above, are black or nearly so; the edge of the membrane just mentioned is fringed with dirty yellowish hairs; the under parts of the body are of a dirty yellow colour, generally very pale, and sometimes dirty yellow-white; near the outer margin the flank membrane beneath is always dusky or greyish; a fringe of longish hairs, which descends from the posterior and lower margin of the ear, is for the most part brownish-white, but the remaining far on the back of the ear at the base, is blackish. The tail is generally coloured like the upper surface of the body, but the apical portion is black. The fur on the hinder-feet, and that on the back of the leg, is long. The outer toe of the fore-foot is as long as that which is next to it; in P. Taguanoides it is decidedly shorter.

Length from nose to root of tail, 14 inches; tail, 19 inches; nose to ear, 2 inches 3 lines; ear, 1 inch 9 lines; tarsus, 1 inch 7\(\frac{1}{2}\) lines; fore-foot, 1 inch 6 lines.

Habitat, New South Wales—“Scrubs near Liverpool Plains” according to the Catalogue of the Australian Museum.

Easily distinguished from other species of the genus, described in this work, by the great length of its ears.

The Hepoona Roo of White’s Journal, the original also of Shaw’s Didelphis Petaurus, is still in existence in the Museum of the College of Surgeons; it proves to be the present species, and not the P. Taguanoides, as has always been supposed. This ought therefore to be regarded as the type of Shaw’s genus Petaurus—if authors are right in attributing that genus to Shaw,—but I do not perceive that he ever regarded the animal in question as constituting a genus, or that he applied the name in a generic sense.

Long-Tailed Petaurus

Petaurus macrourus.

Didelphys macroura, Long-tailed Opossum, Shaw. Zoology of New Holland, Tab. xii., p. 33, and General Zoology, Vol. I., part 2, p. 500, Plate 113.

This species is about the size of the black rat, (Mus rattus,) and is of a dark or brownish-grey colour above, and whitish beneath; the head and neck are also whitish, but a dusky stripe runs along the top of the head almost to the nose; the ears are whitish, moderately large, and slightly rounded; the upper parts of the fore-feet are whitish; and the lower half of the tail is of a deeper black than the beginning.

The above is Shaw’s description of the Long-tailed Opossum, and as I find nothing added to it (imperfect as it is,) in the various works on Mammalia, I presume the animal has not made its appearance in modern times,—though, from the Catalogue of the Australian Museum, it appears that two specimens, (a male and young female,) which are supposed to be of the present species, are there deposited, and regarded as distinct from the other species—all of which that Museum appears to possess—the habitat given is Bathurst.

Shaw says,

the dried skin of this species was sent over by Mr. White, and the specimen figured in the Zoology of New Holland was described from it.

It would appear to belong to the same section as P. sciureus (Belideus.) In the figure given by Shaw in his New Holland Zoology, which is said to be of the natural size, the ears are represented as large, and the tail is slender, and nearly twice the length of the head and body taken together. I strongly suspect it is the young of Petaurus flaviventer: if it be full grown, the great length of the tail, and especially the comparative slenderness of this organ, and the small size of the animal, would indicate that it is very distinct from either of the other species here described.

Subgenus 3. Acrobata

Genus Phascolarctos

The dentition in Phascolarctos differs but little from Phalangista:—the incisors and canines are smaller in proportion, and the molars are much larger. As in the Phalangers, the crown of each true molar presents four tubercles, but these are more angular and of a pyramidal form. Corresponding with the increased size of the molars, we find in the skull evidences of greater strength in the muscles, and especially in the great depth and thickness of the rami of the lower jaw, the angle of which is less twisted inwards than in other Marsupials. The number of teeth may be thus expressed:—Incisors, \(\frac{6}{2}\); canines, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{0\ \cdot\ 0}\); false molars, \(\frac{1\ \cdot\ 1}{1\ \cdot\ 1}\); true molars \(\frac{4\ \cdot\ 4}{4\ \cdot\ 4}\) = 30. The absence of tail in the Koala renders it easily distinguishable from other Phalangistidæ.

Genus Phascolomys

In this genus the incisors are two in number in each jaw, and the molars are five on each side of each jaw. The incisors are large and deeply emplanted in their respective sockets, like those of the Rodentia, (if the teeth so called in the latter animals be really incisors, for this I think doubtful;) those of the upper jaw are somewhat compressed, and when removed from the socket are found to be curved, and hollow at the base. The worn surface of the incisors of the lower jaw approaches slightly to a triangular figure. These teeth, as well as the molars, continue to grow at the base as they are worn down by attrition at the opposite extremity. The molars, like the incisors, are deeply implanted, and hollow at the base; the foremost on either side of each jaw are separated by a narrow space, (especially those of the upper jaw,) but the series diverge posteriorly. These teeth, when removed from the socket, are found to be considerably curved, so as to form a segment of a circle;⁹⁹ those of the upper jaw have their convex side placed inwards, and those of the lower jaw are reversed in position: each of the true molars is longer than broad, and nearly divided into two parts by a broad and deep channel situated on the convex side, and a very shallow channel on the concave side; the crown presents nearly the figure of two triangles joined together, but with the angles somewhat rounded. The foremost of the molars, which from analogy we presume is a false molar, represents one-half of one of the true molars. The skull is very massive and heavy, and its structure throughout evinces enormous power in the masticatory muscles—it presents all the essential characters observable in the crania of the Marsupial animals, and is totally unlike the skull of any of the Rodentia, though the Wombat has been classed by some authors with that group.

The fore-feet have five toes provided with strong nails or claws fitted for burrowing, and the hind-feet have also five toes, but the inner one is nailless, and, though very short, projects nearly at right angles from the foot, as in other Marsupials in which this toe exists.