[Proc. Rot. Soc. Victoria, 21 (N.S.). Pt. II., 1908.] 



Art. XX. — Description of a New Species of 

 Sviinthopsis. 



By W. BALDWIN SPENCER, C.M.G., M.A., F.ll.S. 



I am indebted to Mr. G. A. Keartland for the specimen upon 

 which the following description is based. Though there is only- 

 one, it is an adult male, and differs so clearly from all known 

 species of Sminthopsis that I have no hesitation in describing 

 it as new. 



Smitithopsis longicaudatus, sp. n. 



Size of body similar to that of S. leucopus. A darkish line 

 along each side of the face through the eye. Upper and lower 

 lips and chin white. General body colour grey with rufous tinge 

 in parts ; the basal three-quarters of each hair blue-black. Fore- 

 arm, hand and foot white.' 



Ear large and broad ; laid forward they reach the anterior 

 canthus of the eyes. 



Hand with six pads, four smaller distal ones corresponding in 

 position with the intervals between the digits 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 

 3 and -i, 4 and 5. Two large proximal ones near the wrist. Both 

 of the latter are V-shaped, with the apex pointing forwards. The 

 one on the outer side is large. All the pads are striated. 



Foot with five pads, three at the base of the digits, one at the 

 base of the hallux, and one further back. All the pads are 

 striated. Both palms and soles are finely granulated. 



Tail remarkably long — twice the length of the head and body ; 

 scaly, with short stiff hairs ; no crest ; composed of some 30 

 elongate vertebral bodies. 



Skill!. — Slender and delicate. Tlie nasals proportionately- 

 longer than in any other species, and but very slightly broader 

 behind than in front. Interorbital space smooth ; no postorbital 



1 Owinjj to the iiuiierfect preservation of tlie fur it is not possible to describe the 

 colours more in detail. 



