opossum-mouse

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


the small Australianmarsupial, Acrobates pygmaeus, Shaw; more correctlycalled the Pigmy Flying-Phalanger. See Flying-Phalanger. This is the animal generally so denoted,and it is also called the Flying-Mouse. But thereis an intermediate genus, Dromicia (q.v.), with noparachute expansion on the flanks, not «flying,» of whichthe name of Dormouse-Phalanger is the more properappellation. The species are the – – Common Dormouse-Phalanger – – Dromicia nana, Desm.

♣ Lesser D. – Ph. – – D. lepida, Thomas.

♣ Long-tailed D. – Ph. – – D. caudata, M. Edw.

♣ Western D. – Ph. – – D. concinna, Gould.

One genus, with only one species, the Pentailed-Phalanger, Distaechurus pennatus,Peters, is confined to New Guinea.

1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' p. 28:

«The opossum-mouse is about the size of our largestbarn-mouse.»

1894. R. Lydekker, `Marsupialia,' p. 118:

«Resembling a common mouse in size, and hence known to thecolonists as the flying-mouse or opossum-mouse, this littleanimal is one of the most elegant of the Australianmarsupials.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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