10 CATALOGUE OF MAMMALS FUOM NEW GUIi>.i,A. 



a ilUtinct u;oinis. The outer imd inner toes of tlie fore-feet are very 

 sniiill, nulinienliiry anil elawless. 



d. Dasyurina. 



PlIASCOGALK (AnTECHINUs) MELAS. 



Phdscogale {AiitechbiHs) melas, Miiller, Verlianil. t. 25. f. 1-3. 

 Ilab. New Guinea (Miilfer). 



Tlie animal tliffers, accordiiig to the figure, in having; the hair of 

 the tail rather more elongated and spreading than the Australian 

 species of tiie genus ; the dentition is more nearly alUed to the t)i(e- 

 c/iinus thau to the new genus Myoictis sent home hy Mr. Wallace. 



Myoictis. 



Myoictis, J. E. Graj', Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858. 



Head tapering ; nose acute ; wjiiskers strong. Tail depressed, 

 tapering, clothed with rather elongated hairs above and on the sides ; 

 tlie under side flat, nakedish. Feet moderate ; soles bald to the 

 heel ; toes 5*5, free, compressed ; claws acute ; first and fifth front 

 toes ecpial ; second, third and fourth toes equal, longer; hinder toes 

 free, weak, distinct, clawless ; thumb of hind-foot larger. Ears 

 roundish, nakedish. Scrotum pendulous. 



Cutting teeth ^; the upper with a central space in front between 

 them, in a close series on each side, and with a small interspace be- 

 tween them and the canines ; the first tooth very small, hidden in the 

 gums, the others all equal, lancet-shaped, rather crowded; the lower 

 forming a continued series, shelving forward, all lancet-shaped, sub- 

 equal ; the front rather the longest and narrowest ; the hinder rather 

 broader. 



Canines -j^jJ conical ; the upper not quite developed, only slightly 

 produced above the level of the other teeth ; the lower small, com'ral 

 scarcely raised above the other teeth (figs. 3, 4). 



False grinders |^, conical, compressed ; the lower with a very 

 obscure, the upper with a rather more distinct, conical tubercle <>n 

 the front and hinder edge (figs. 3, 4). 



True grinders ^ ; the upper large, triangular, acutely lobed ; 

 the lower compressed, very acutely lobed ; the middle one in each 

 jaw the largest. 



The angle of the lower jaw is produced, elongate and strongly in- 

 flexed, as is usual in Mursiqnalia. 



Skull : length, 1 inch 3 lines ; width, all the zygomatic arch, 9 lines; 

 length of the tooth-line !) lines. Length of tlie lower jaw 11-^, of 

 syni])hysis 4^, of tooth-hue 7\ Hues (figs. 1, 2, 3, 4). 

 " This genus is yieculiar, because, as far as the dentition is concerned, 

 there is no character by which we should have determined that it 

 was a Marsupial animal ; but the form of the angle of the lower 

 jaw at uuee ^hows its true alKiiity to that group. It was not initU a 



