Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

Common Dormouse-Phalanger—
<i>Dromicia nana</i>, Desm.

Lesser D.-Ph.—
<i>D. lepida</i>, Thomas.

Long-tailed D.-Ph.—
<i>D. caudata</i>, M. Edw.

Western D.-Ph.—
<i>D. concinna</i>, Gould.

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

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

"The opossum-mouse is about the size of our largest barn-mouse."

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

"Resembling a common mouse in size, and hence known to the colonists as the flying-mouse or opossum-mouse, this little animal is one of the most elegant of the Australian marsupials."

<hw>Opossum-Tree</hw>, <i>n</i>. a timber-tree, <i>Quintinia sieberi</i>, De C., <i>N.O. Saxifrageae</i>.