"The pouch of the female, in which the young are nursed, is thought to connect it rather with the opossum tribe."
[p. 147]: "A small animal of the opossum kind."
[p. 293]: "Black flying-opossum. [Description given.] The fur of it is so beautiful, and of so rare a texture, that should it hereafter be found in plenty, it might probably be thought a very valuable article of commerce."
1793. J. Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 68:
"The opossum is also very numerous here, but it is not exactly like the American opossum: it partakes a good deal of the kangaroo in the strength of its tail and make of its fore-legs, which are very short in proportion to the hind ones; like that animal it has the pouch, or false belly, for the safety of its young in time of danger."
1798. D. Collins, `Account of New South Wales,' fol. i. p. 562:
"At an early age the females wear round the waist a small line made of the twisted hair of the opossum, from the centre of which depend a few small uneven lines from two to five inches long. This they call bar-rin."
1809. G. Shaw, `Zoological Lectures,' vol. i. p. 93:
"A still more elegant kind of New Holland opossum is the petaurine opossum . . . has the general appearance of a flying-squirrel, being furnished with a broad furry membrane from the fore to the hind feet, by the help of which it springs from tree to tree. . . . Known in its native regions by the name of hepoona roo."
1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 67: