Certain Neiv Species of Marsupials. 11 



indebted, I had the opportunity of examining the specimen 

 itself. The latter when received by Krefft was in a very bad 

 condition, but there is enough of the orignal animal and fur 

 remaining to show that both the description and figure* given by 

 Krefft are exceedingly unsatisfactory. The animal is nothing- 

 like so rufous as in the drawing, being of a darker mouse colour 

 with a lighter undersurface. The tail is much more swollen 

 proximally than in the figure, shows traces of a rufous coloured 

 proximal part, was evidently incrassated, and had both a dorsal 

 and a ventral crest of hairs. Under the circumstances, viz., an 

 originally badly preserved type specimen, a drawing which could 

 not in certain respects (as to tail and colouration) ha\e 

 correctly represented the animal, and a description which is not 

 only far from complete but is incorrect, there is considerable 

 ditiiculty in assigning with certainty any newly found specimens 

 to the species in question. 



We have however the dimensions given by Mr. Krefi't, the 

 corrections in the description of the animal which can be made 

 after inspection of the type and the peculiarity in the dentition 

 noted by Mr. Krefi't. A re-description, taking all these points into 

 consideration, would apply so closely to the specimens recently 

 obtained from Central Australia, that I have thought it better to 

 amend the description given by Mr. Krefi't, and to refer my 

 specimens to the same species rather than to create a new one for 

 their reception. 



The amended description may be given shortly as follows. 1 

 shall deal fully with my specimens in the volume dealing with 

 the Horn Expedition. 



Phascologak cristiaiiida, Krefi't. 



Size large. Form strong. Fur close and soft, and mainly 

 composed of the under-fur. 



General body colour, mouse grey, tinged with rufous dorsally. 

 Under surface of head and body cream-white, as are also the 

 upper and inner surfaces of the limbs. 



Tail thickly covered on its upper and lateral surfaces with 

 coarse chestnut-coloured hairs ; ventraily the hairs are dark 



* Krefft, P.ZS., 186G. 



