DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF MAPtSU- 

 PIALS {PERAMELES AND ANTECHINUS), AND 

 OF A NEW SPECIES OP MUS (M. BURTONI), FROM 

 THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF DERBY, N.W.A. 



By Dr. E. P. Ramsay, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., &c., &c. 



(Plate XVII.) 



For the pleasure of describing the above-named Marsupials, I am 

 indebted to the Hon. \V. Macleay, who obtained them from one 

 of his collectors (Mr. Froggatt), from Derby, N. W. Australia. 

 The Mus I received from the late Thos. Boyer-Bower Esq., from 

 the same locality. 



Perameles auratus, sp. nov. 



Total length, 8*5 inches (without tail); fore foot, 1 inch; hind foot, 

 2 inches; from tip of snout to .centre of the eye, 1"4 inch ; from 

 tip of snout to base of the ear, 2*2 inches ; length of ear 0'7 

 inch, width at base 0-5 inch, greatest width 0'7 inch ; tail 

 wanting, {represented hy small tubercle 0"5 incli long, probably a 

 malformation.) 



General color rich golden brown pencilled with black, on the 

 sides of a clearer tint, passing on the throat and belly into white. 

 The whole of the upper surface of the body, head and sides pen- 

 cilled with narrow black lines formed by the black portions of the 

 stiff flattened hairs. Hair of two kinds, the fur next the skin is 

 of an ashy white, soft and silky ; the outer hairs flattened, stiff, 

 almost spiny ; on the throat, belly, and inner parts of the legs 

 white ; on the upper parts of head and back black and rufous; some 

 hairs barred alternately, others all black or all rufous, giving a 

 pencilled or striated appearance of black and rufous to the upper 

 surface ; the ears proportionately broad and short, although con- 

 spicuous. There is no trace of bai's on the body. Incisors, 3I3 ; 

 Canines, \z{; Premolars, 3Z3; Molars, \z\. 



