[AO] Sonnini observes, that this rare and singular animal is found in the most distant islands of the Indian Ocean, and more particularly at Amboyna, where it is called the _podie_ in the language of Madagascar. This is the only additional fact that has been acquired respecting the tarsier, since the time of Buffon. THE PHALANGER. Two animals, a male and female, which were sent to us by the name of _Surinam rats_, but which have much less affinity to rats, than with those animals with which we have given the history under the names of the _marmose_ and _cayopollin_. We have, therefore, rejected the denomination of Surinam rats, as complex and misapplied. As it has never been mentioned by any naturalist or traveller, we have called it _phalanger_, (_fig. 168._) from its _phalanges_ being singularly formed, and because the two first toes on the fore-feet are joined to each other to the end of the last phalanx, and are separated only near the claws; the thumb is separated from the other toes and has no claws; this last character, although remarkable, is not peculiar, for the Virginia and murine opossums have the same, but none of them have the _phalanges_ fastened together. These animals vary in the colour[AP] of the hair, they are about the size of a small rabbit, or a very large rat, and are remarkable for the excessive length of their tail, snout, and the form of their teeth, which alone is sufficient to distinguish them from the opossums, the rats, and every other species of animals with which it may be supposed to relate. [AP] The hair on the upper part of the body is reddish mixed with light ash colour and yellow. The hind part of the head and middle of the back, are marked with a black line. The throat, belly, legs, and part of the tail, are of a dirty yellowish white. _Pennant's Synopsis._ _Engraved for Barr's Buffon_ [Illustration: FIG. 169. _Coquallin._] [Illustration: FIG. 168. _Phalanger._] THE COQUALLIN. I discovered this animal, which was sent me from America, under the name of the _orange-coloured squirrel_, to be the same as that which Fernandes calls _quauhicollotquapachli cozticotequallin_: but as these Mexican words are very difficult to pronounce, I have abridged the last to _coquallin_ (_fig. 169._). It is not a squirrel, although it greatly resembles that animal both in the figure and bushiness of the tail, for it not only differs by many external characters, but also by its disposition and manners.