POTOROUS. 39 



Subfamily II. POTOROIN.E. 



Rat-Kangaroos. 



Size small. Claws of fore feet very large, those of the three 

 median digits disproportionately larger than those of the outer. 

 Hallux wanting. Tail long and hairy. Canines always present, 

 generally well developed. 



Genus II. POTOROUS, Desmarest (1804). 



Size variable. Rhinarium naked. Ears very short, rounded. 

 Fore claws long and rather slender. Hind limb not dispropor- 

 tionately longer than the fore limb ; hind feet very short, shorter 

 than the head, the soles naked and coarsely granulated. Tail 

 tapering, hairy, without trace of crest. 



Dentition.-!. J-g, 0. -J, P. ^, M. J-g-J x 2 = 34. 



Habits. Terrestrial ; herbivorous. 



1. POTOROUS PLATYOPS, Gould, sp. (1844). 



Broad-faced Rat-kangaroo. 



Size very small. Naked part of rhinarium not extending back- 

 wards along the top of the muzzle. Face very short and broad. 

 Fur long, coarse, and straight. Hind feet very short, long-haired. 

 General color above grizzled dark grayish-brown ; below white or 

 grayish-white. Back of ears dark brown. Tail black above, 

 dirty-white below. 



Dimensions. -Head and body about fourteen inches; tail about 

 eight inches ; hind foot less than two-thirds of an inch. 



Habitat. West Australia. 



References. Thomas, B.M. Catal. p. 121, pi. xiii. fig. 13 (upper 

 view of skull) ; Gould, Mamm. Austr. ii. pi. Ixx. 



2. POTOROUS GILBERT:, Gould, sp. (1841). 



Gilbert's Rat-Kangaroo. 



Size medium. Naked part of rhinarium extending backwards 

 along the top of the muzzle. Face long and narrow. Hind feet 

 long, short-haired. Fur and general colors as in P. platyops. Tail 

 gray at base, deepening in color to black terminally. 



Dimensions. Head and body about fifteen and a half inches; 

 tail about seven inches; hind foot more than two-thirds of an inch. 



Habitat. South-west Australia. 



References. Thomas, B.M. Catal. p. 120; Gould, Mainm. Austr 

 ii. pL Ixix. 



