Art. II. — Description of two Neio Species of Marsupials 

 from Central Australia. 



(With Plate II.) 



By Baldwin Spencer, M.A., C.M.Z.S., 



Professor of Biology in the University of Melbourne. 

 [Bead 12th March, 1896]. 



In the Report on the Mammalia of the Horn Expedition to 

 Central Australia the following was appended as a foot-note to 

 the list of mammals therein enumerated. "In addition to those 

 named in this list, there certainly exist in Central Australia a 

 species of Dasyurus and at least one of Perameles. Mr. Gillen 

 informs me that at Alice Springs the blacks have a special corro- 

 boree associated with the ' Chilperta ' or native cat. Perameles 

 fasciatus is included in Sanger's list, and Mr. Byrne of Charlotte 

 Waters, who is well acquainted with the Marsupial fauna of that 

 district, tells me that he knows of the existence of one species 

 of Perameles and believes that a species of Peragale occurs of 

 considerably smaller size than and distinct from P. lagotis" 



Since this was written I have received through the kindness of 

 Mr. Gillen of Alice Springs and Mr. Byrne of Charlotte Waters 

 four species of Marsupials, which more than corroborate the 

 statement referred to. 



From Alice Springs specimens of Perameles obesula and of 

 Dasyurus geoffroyi have come. An incomplete skin of what is 

 presumably the same species as the latter has also been secured 

 by Mr. Bryne from Crown Point on the Finke River, so that 

 evidently the species has a wide range in the centre. 



The occurrence of Perameles obesula is of interest as it serves 

 to considerably extend its distribution, which now stretches right 

 across the whole of West and South Australia, Victoria, New 

 South Wales, probably Southern Queensland and southwards to 

 Tasmania. It is also of interest as being one of the very few 

 species of animals belonging to any group which is possessed in 

 common by Central Australia and Tasmania. The native name 

 of the animal which has so far only been obtained in the Burt 



