Art. XI n. — Ohser vat ions on Murida' from Central 



Aiistralia. 



By Edgar R. TN'aite, F.L.S.. 



ZcKjlogist, Australiau Museum, Sydney. 



(Commimieated by Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A.) 



TEead 21st October, 1897.] 



(Plates T. and TI.) 



Since the publication of the Mio-idi^ of the Horn Expedition' 

 Pi-of. Baldwin Spencer of Melbourne has obtained from Messrs. 

 P. M. Byrne, F. J. Gillen, and C. E. Cowle a number of 

 additional specimens from Central Australia. As on the former 

 occasion these ha^e been submitted to me for examination, and 

 prove to be of considerable interest. 



The collection does not contain any species new to science, but 

 has furnished material whereon I have found it necessaiy to 

 establish two new genera. One of these, it is believed, will 

 include the typical jumping forms, the other is to receive a knovvTi 

 sj)ecies possessing a peculiarity previously overlooked. This is 

 the presence of an external throat pouch, particulars of which 

 are discussed later. 



It has been necessary to redesignate one species, on account of 

 the preoccupation of the name in general use. In this case, as 

 well as in most of the species enumerated, the opportunity has been 

 embraced of describing the cranial and other neglected features. 

 The specimens are preserved in spirits and the measurements, in 

 miUemetres, are taken with a vernier scale, which, especially in 

 the cranial dimensions, gives an accuracy scarcely obtainable with 

 the rule and compass. 



An examination of Hapalotis hvii^icaudatus reveals the fact 

 that the hind feet differ greatly from those of the typical Mus, 

 not only in their relative increased length, but also in the number 



1 Rei>ort Horn Exucl., IsftC, ii., pp. 393., et se-i. 



