. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE VULPINE PHALANGIST. iif only venturing from its retreat as evening draws on. The nature of its food is of a mixed character, for the creature is capable of feeding on vegetable food, like the Petaurists, and also displays a considerable taste for animal food of all kinds. If a small bird be given to a Vulpine Phalangist, the creature seizes it in its paws, manipulates it adroitly for a while, and then tears it to pieces and eats it. It is rather a remarkable fact, that the animal is peculiarly fond of the brain, and always commences its feast by cru
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE VULPINE PHALANGIST. iif only venturing from its retreat as evening draws on. The nature of its food is of a mixed character, for the creature is capable of feeding on vegetable food, like the Petaurists, and also displays a considerable taste for animal food of all kinds. If a small bird be given to a Vulpine Phalangist, the creature seizes it in its paws, manipulates it adroitly for a while, and then tears it to pieces and eats it. It is rather a remarkable fact, that the animal is peculiarly fond of the brain, and always commences its feast by crushing the head between its teeth, and devouring the brain. In all probability, therefore, the creature makes no small portion of its meals on various animal substances, such as insects, reptiles, and eggs. As to the birds on which it so loves to feed, it may very probably, although so slow an animal, capture them in the same manner as has been related of the lemurs, viz. by creeping slowly and cautiously upon them as they sleep, and swiftly seizing them before they can awaken to a sense of their danger. It is a tolerably large animal, equalling a large cat in dimensions, and is, there- fore, able to make dire havoc among such prey whenever it chooses to issue. VULPINE PHALANGIST.—(/';^l7/'a«^Wi'3 vuljiina.) forth with the intention of making a meal upon some small bird that may chance to be sleeping in fancied security. The fore-paws of the Vulpine Phalangist are well adapted for such pro- ceedings, as they are possessed of great strength and mobility, so that the animal is able to take up any small object in its paws, and to hold it after the manner of the common squirrel. When feeding, ft generally takes its food in its fore-paws, and so conveys it to its mouth. In captivity it does not seem to be a very intelligent animal, even when night brings forth its time of energy, and it but little responds to the advances of its owner, however kind he may be. It will feed on bread
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
