866 ROBERT COLLETT, 



36. Phascölogale (Sniinthopsis) vi/rgininiae de Tarr. 1847. 



Phascogale virginiae de Taeeagon, in: Eev. Zool. 1847, p. 177 (1847). 

 Phascölogale virginiae Collett, in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1886, Dec. 7*"^ 



p. 548, pl. LX (1886). 

 Sminthopsis virginiae Thomas, in litt. April 1887 (cfr. Ann. Mus. Civ. 



Genova, ser. 2, vol. IV, p. 503) (1887). 



In the Revue Zoologique, 1847 (p. 177), de Tarragon has 

 published a short account of a Pouched Mouse under the name of 

 Phascogale virginiae. No locality is mentioned , and , according to 

 Mr. Oldfield Thomas, who kindly drew my attention to this but 

 little noticed report, the typical specimen appears to have been lost. 

 The species has not been mentioned by any subsequent author, and 

 appears never to have been found again. For the Identification of 

 Ph. virginiae one is thus compelled merely to refer to the original 

 and incomplete description. 



One specimen of a Phascölogale, brought home by Dr. L. from 

 Queensland, which was obtained at Herbert Vale in Jan'^ 1883, appears, 

 in all its chief features, to agree with Ph. virginiae. It is true that 

 the original description only treats of its external characters, and no 

 mention is made of the skull and the structure of the teeth. 



As, however, in the original description nothing is to be found, 

 in which they really difier, I have found it more suitable to class 

 the new individual with the above species, than to give it a new 

 name and therefore published a new preliminary diagnosis, accompanied 

 by a coloured plate, in : Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1886 (p. 503, pl. LX). 



A more complete description of this individual will be found 

 below. 



Diagnosis. (Male): Colouring: blackish above, with 

 numerous white hairs (grizzled grey);yellowish rufous 

 beneath. 



Upper part of the head reddish grey; ablackstripe 

 fromthesnouttotheforehead, and an^other less distinct 

 on each side towards the ey e; the feet reddish grey, the 

 tail brownish grey with black tip. The hair covering 

 s m 1 h. 



Ears large, almost naked; tail of the length of the 

 body, clothed with scanty, close hairs. 



Hind feet rather slender; thumb very short; fleshy 

 pads at the base of the toes. Metatarsus naked along 

 the middle. 



