( !'!■> ) 



8. Uromys macropus <ii-. (?). 



One youug sjieeimeii. 



From the entirely unworn state of its incisors, and the fact tliat, none of its 

 molars had cut the gum, it is probable that this specimen was still suckling. Its 

 determination is of course most doubtful, but its palate-ridges, tail-coloration, and 

 size appear to be much as in U. macropus. On the other liand, in the peculiar 

 structure of its anterior palate it sliows some resemblance to Cmiilwrus hirsatus 

 (iould. 



Ten specimens. 



One specimen. 



9. Petaurus breviceps Waterli. 

 II). Dactylopsila trivirgata 'iiay. 



11. Phalanger orientalis intercastellanus subsp. nov. 



Four nearly or {[uite adult .specimens, and six foetuses. 



Before describing this subspecies it may first be observed that 1 now believe I 

 was wrong in stating* that the skull of Ph. orientalis breviceps only differed from 

 that of the typical variety by its smaller size, as there are several other differential 

 characters, among whicli the direction and development of the supraorliital ridges are 

 specially noteworthy. In Ph. breviceps (as, raising it to the rank of a species, I now 

 think it should be called) the ridges are practically alike in the two sexes, remaining 

 in both parallel throughout life; their development is vertical, not outwards. Such 

 rudimentary post orbital processes as are present do not ovei'hang the orbits proper, but 

 onlv the anterior part of the sides of the brain-case. On the other hand, in Ph. 

 orientalis there is a marked difference between the sexes, the ridges of the female 

 being comparatively weak and practically parallel, while those of the 'irmle develop 

 outwards and upwards into strong triangular projections overhanging the orbits and 

 corresponding to postorbital processes. In the lower jaw the coronoid process of Ph. 

 breviceps is developed liackwanls into a sharp curved projection, longer and more 

 jiointed than in Ph. orientalis. 



Bearing these facts in mind, the D'Kntrecasteaux representative of the group may 

 be liriefly diagnosed as follows ; — 



Colour and character of fur as in ordinary grey examples of Pli. o. ti/picuf!. 

 Dorsal streak present. Size scarcely greater than in Ph. breviceps. I^ower jaw and 

 structure of supraorbital region as in typicus (at least so far as the nude is concerned). 

 Middlet upper premolar obsolete or deciduous. P'or proportions of teeth see thr 

 measurements given below, as compared with those in the Catalogue. 



* Cat. Mars. Jl. .V., p. 204, 1888. In the .synonymy given of this form, the name " C'lisius ulitM" is 

 rojectea because antedated by Phalaiiiji.sta, allia E. Geoff., Cat. Mus., p. 148, 1803. This hitter work, how- 

 ever, is now known to be merely the proof of a book which was never published, and is tlierefore quite 

 invalid, and shoulil not be ciuoted. Geottrcy's Museum name alha for the albino variety of the grey Ciuscus 

 proves however to have been validly published by Desniarest {.Vaiiim., I., p. 207, 1.S20) in the form 

 •' Phalaiiyijfta ntfa var. alba Geoff.," so thai the name hrrrirt-ps r-Miiains unaffected by Lesson's use of 

 •• albits " for the New Ireland Cusiics. 



t In view of the entire revolution that has taken place in our ideas of dental origin and homo- 

 logies during the last seven years, it seems better for systematic purposes to u.se the terms "anterior," 

 "middle," and "posterior" for the three Marsupial premolars, without attempting to homologise them 

 individually with those of I'laitental Mammal'". 



