131' J. J. FLETCHER, B.A., B.Sc. 645 



folds, and some transverse puckerings tlicY present no features 

 wortliy of remark. 



Ospliranter rufus. — This species is usually spoken of as Maerojyus 

 rufus. By Mr. Gould however it was referred to liis genus 

 Osi^liranter. The characters presented by the urogenital organs, 

 are so similar to those of 0. rohusfus and so different from those 

 of M. major, that they seem to me to offer evidence of [some 

 taxonomic value, in favour of Mr. Gould's view. Moreover on 

 p. oJi of his valuable Manual Mr. AYaterhouse says, "As regards 

 the section Mdcropv.s proper (as now restricted), characterised 

 as having the mufHe hairy, it is necessary to state that the species 

 which are arranged in that section differ as to the extent of the 

 part of the muffle which is clothed with hairs ; and in some 

 cases, as in M. rufa^, the muffle is quite as imperfectly clothed as 

 in certain Halmafurim which the muffle is said to be nalied." 



The three specimens now to be described are the first of this 

 species which I have obtained. Por two of them I am again 

 indebted to Mr. F. Morley who has taken much trouble to increase 

 my stock of material and to whom my best thanks are due. One 

 of the two females had a young one in the pouch, the other had an 

 empty pouch, but was suckling a haired young one running with 

 her. Or the third I have no particulars except that my collector 

 was satisfied that she had had young. This specimen was in an 

 early stage of pregnancy. 



All three specimens shew the direct communication, and are 

 essentially like the specimen! figured in the paper by Mr. Lister 

 and myself (P.Z.S., 1881, p. 985). 



The urogenital canal is about as long as in 0. rolibdm. It 

 varies from If in., in one specimen Avhich hoAvever is much smaller 

 in every way than the others, to 2^ in. They all present con- 

 spicuous ridges much as in the other species. The two apertures 

 are situated on the median ridge, but the latter, immediately 

 posterior to the orifice of the direct communication, first suddenly 

 Qi 



