Page:Mammals of Australia (Gould), introduction.djvu/43

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INTRODUCTION.

14. Perameles Bougainvillei, Quoy et Gaim.

Perameles Bougainvillei, Quoy et Gaim. Zool. du Voy. de l'Uranie, p. 56. tab. 5, et Bull. des Sci.Nat. 1824, tom. i. p. 270; Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm. vol. i. p. 385.

Habitat. Péron's Peninsula; in Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Having never seen a specimen of this animal, I am unable to figure it, or to say if it be a good species.


Genus Phascolarctos, De Blainv.

15. Phascolarctos cinereusVol. I. Pls. 13 & 14.

Habitat. New South Wales.


Genus Phalangista, Cuv.

16. Phalangista fuliginosa, OgilbyVol. I. Pl. 15.

Habitat. Van Diemen's Land. Victoria?

In one of the letters from my son Charles, now engaged in a geological survey of Tasmania, the following passage having reference to this animal occurs:—

"I lay down, looking up at the moon and stars, thinking of home, and dreamily listening to the crackling of the fire, when a diabolical, chattering, grunting laugh overhead makes me start up, and discover that a Sooty Opossum is making an inspection of me, with comments, from the branch above; his call is responded to by others, and a kind of concert commences, which is maintained at intervals throughout the night,—the smaller or Ring-tailed Opossums performing an active part in it also, and the 'More Pork' (Podargus Cuvieri) lending a little lugubrious assistance occasionally."


17. Phalangista vulpina, Desm.Vol. I. Pl. 16.

Phalangista melanura, Wagn., Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm. vol. i. p. 288.

————— felina, Wagn., Waterh. ib. p. 294.

Goö-mal, aborigines of Western Australia.

Habitat. Probably every part of Australia; certainly all its southern portions.