154 MYRMECOBWS 



an interesting description of its habits. Antcchinomys has much 

 the look of the Australian Rat, Hapalotis mitclielli ; uiid as the 

 two animals lead a similar kind of life, the resemblance is not 

 unexpected. Professor Spencer wonders why these creatures are 

 saltatory in habit. The country which they inhabit is arid, but 

 with patches of grass and shrubs. For a big kangaroo the 

 advantage of the power of leaping over such obstacles may be 

 obvious, but not for the small and slender Antechinomys. The 

 chief foes of this rare Marsupial appear to be predatory birds ; 

 and Professor Spencer thinks that the saltatory mode of pro- 

 gression may be more baffling to such pursuers than even a 

 rapid run. 



The genus Dasyuroides has been lately instituted by Professor 

 Spencer for a Marsupial from Central Australia somewhat in- 

 termediate between Sminthopsis and Phascologale. As there is 

 but one species, the generic will be considered with the specific 

 characters. D. hyrnei is an animal of about the size of the 

 Common Eat. The hallux is absent. The tail is fairly thick, 

 but not " incrassated." There are six mammae, and the pouch is 

 but slightly developed, with two low lateral folds. The dentition 

 is I ^ C ^ Pm |^ M |. This Marsupial is nocturnal, and burrow- 

 ing in habit. Its food consists of insects. 1 



Myrmecolnus is so different from the last- described genera (!)ASY- 

 URINAE) that it is usually separated from them as a sub-family 

 MYRMECOBIINAE. The animal is of a bright rufous colour, banded 

 posteriorly with white. There is no hallux, though the metatarsal 

 belonging to that digit is present. There are four mammae. 2 

 On the chest is a naked patch of some extent, upon which open 

 the ducts of a complex gland, which has been described and 

 figured by myself. 3 There is no pouch, but a tract of skin 

 shows indications of a pouch - like structure. The teeth are 

 extraordinarily numerous, fifty to fifty-four ; the formula being 

 I g^f) C ^ Pm M ^. Their resemblance to those of certain Jur- 

 assic Marsupials is dealt with on p. 100. 4 In this matter lies of 



1 Horn Scientific Expedition, pt. ii. Zoology, 1896, p. 36. 



2 Leche found five, and Waterhonse stated eight to be the number. 



3 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, p. 527. See also Leche, Biol. Foren. Forhandl. 1891, p. 

 136, and literature quoted. 



1 Traces of horny pads, like those of the Duck-bill, have been asserted to exist 

 in this animal. This is exceedingly interesting when regarded in conjunction 

 with its multituberculate molars. 



