8 MYRMECOBIIN^E. 



absent; the other toes subequal. Stomach simple. Ccecum absent. 

 Pouch, when present, opening forwards or downwards, sometimes 

 rudimentary, rarely obsolete. 



Subfamily I. MYRMECOBIINJE. 



Tongue long, cylindrical, and extensile. Rhinarium naked, 

 grooved below. Lower lip pointed, projecting beyond the teeth. 

 Chest with a complex gland opening to the surface by several large 

 and distinct apertures. Molars small and delicate, more than four 

 in number in each ramus, those of the lower jaw with the inner 

 cusps larger than the outer. 



Genus I. MYRMECOBIUS, Waterhouse (1836). 



Form graceful and squirrel-like. Ears long and narrow. Toes 

 5-4, provided with long fossorial claws; hallux absent externally. 

 Palms naked, soles partially so; pads small and granulated. Tail 

 long and bushy. Pouch obsolete. Mammae four (Thomas), but 

 Gilbert states /'Gould. Mamm. Austr.) that he has " observed 

 seven young attached to the nipples." 



r> ... T 1.2.3.4 n 1 -D 1.0.3.4 -* 1.2.3.4.5.0 o p- n , R O 



Dentition. 1. ^^, C. p P. ^j^, M. 1-2 . 3A5 . 6or0 x 2 = 50 to 52. 



Habits. Terrestrial ; arboreal ; insectivorous. 



Note. A fourth incisor is rarely present in the lower jaw. 



1. MYRMECOBIUS FASCIATUS, Waterhouse (1836). 

 Marsupial Anteater. 



Fur short, close, and hispid. General color above bright 

 rufous, grizzled on the head, darkening posteriorly, where it is 

 transversely banded with white ; a white stripe over each eye ; 

 below clear pale yellow. Ears pointed, clothed with close, short 

 hairs, rufous behind, yellowish inside. Claws dark horn-color. 

 Third finger shorter than second or fourth. Palms with five 

 small, round, finely granulated pads; soles hairy along the edges, 

 with only three pads. Tail long-haired above, shorter-haired 

 below ; the former grizzled yellow and black, the latter rich rufous. 



Dimensions. Head and body about ten inches ; tail about 

 seven inches. 



Habitat. South and West Australia. 



References. Thomas, B.M. Catal. p. 312, pi. xxiii. fig. 10 (sole); 

 Gould, Marnm. Austr. i. pi. iv. 



Note. Mr. Thomas remarks : The chief interest of this 

 remarkable genus lies in its close resemblance and, presumably, 

 relationship to the Mesozoic Polyprotoclont Marsupials (Phascolo- 

 therium, Amphilestes, &c.) of the English Jurassic beds, the resem- 



