8 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



Phascologales, though this by itself is not perhaps a matter of 

 the greatest importance. On the other hand, the foot is much 

 more stoutly built than in the genus Sminthopsis. 



In the absence of hallux it is markedly distinct from the 

 foot of either genus. 



(3). The pouch is very slightly developed as in Phascologale, 

 and the mamma^, six in number, and not eight or ten as in 

 Sminthopsis. 



(4). The skull is flattened in the frontal region as in Phascolo- 

 gale, but on the other hand it differs from the latter and agrees 

 with Sminthopsis in the character of the nasal bones, which are 

 only very slightly expanded behind. The bullae differ from those 

 of Sminthopsis in having the posterior mastoid portion strongly 

 inflated. 



(5). The dentition on the contrary is similar to that of certain 

 species of Phascologale. The lower /* is lost, and the upper p^ 

 is much smaller than p''. The canines also are remarkably 

 strong. In dentition it shows an approach as do also certain 

 Phascologales to Dasyurus. 



It will be seen that as at present defined this species cannot 

 be placed in either of the genera Sminthopsis or Phascologale. 

 In certain respects it presents characters at present regarded as 

 distinctive of one or the other while it differs markedly from 

 both in the entire absence of hallux. 



To have associated it with these forms would have necessitated 

 the merging of the two genera into one another, and the additional 

 widening of the characters so as to include a non-hallucated form. 

 The only other alternative was the creation of new genus, and I 

 therefore adopted this plan, though at the same time it may 

 be pointed out tliat with an increase in our knowledge of old 

 and new species of these geneia, a revision of them will certainly 

 become necessary. 



Dasyuroides may be therefore regarded as a genus closely 

 allied both to Phascologale and Sminthopsis, and as showing also 

 an approach to Dasyurus. 



Sminthopsis larapinta, sp. nov. 



Size small, form light and delicate. Fur very soft and flne, 

 moderately long, composed almost entirely of under-fur with few 



