On a Collection of Mammals from Central and Northern Queensland. 921 



brought home one of the first specimens, namcly Endeavour River. 

 As is already pointed out by Thomas (in 1879), this specimen of 

 Cook, which so early as in 1792 was described by Kerr (in bis 

 edition of tbe „Animal Kingdom") under the name of Didelphis caudi- 

 volvulus, is the type for the „Ring tailed Opossum". As other spe- 

 cimens of the North Australian form , the true type of the species, 

 have hardly been mentioned in later years by zoologists, I shall 

 add a few remarks concerning this individual. 



Compared with a specimen before me of the South Australian 

 Fhalangista coohi Desm, 1817 (from Gawler, Adelaide, April 1874), 

 the two individuals fully agree in all essential details, and cannot 

 be separated as distinct species, 



Tliis specimen from S. Australia is a fully developed male with 

 much worn teeth ; in colouring it closely resembles one of the spe- 

 cimens of theTasmanian Phal. viverrina Ogilby 1837, which has been 

 figured by Gould in Mamm. Austr. pt. VIII (the lowest), which also 

 belongs to the same species (vide Jentink, 1. c). 



The specimen from Coomooboolaroo is a little smaller, and is 

 more slender, but probably represents a rather young male. 



Th;e colour. In the colouring it mostly resembles that indivi- 

 dual, which Jentink in : Notes from the Leyden Mus. vol. VII, (p. 23) 

 describes under No. 4 and No. 9, the last of which, according to Jentink's 

 assumption, is possibly the very specimen, obtained by Cook from 

 Endeavour River. 



The Upper part is grey, without distinct patches, but the back 

 has a slightly reddish tinge, and numerous whitish tipped hairs. The 

 reddish hue is strongest on the nape and the uppermost portion of 

 the back, but less prominent on the other portions. 



The sides of the body are silvery grey, and have no reddish 

 mixture. 



The lower surface is white, as is also the inner covering of the feet ; on 

 the throat the white colour extends towards the ears, where there is a 

 crescent shaped blackish spot, and above this, immediately at the base 

 of the ear, a white spot, very recognizable in the species. 



The snout is a lighter grey ; the surroundings of the eyes almost 

 reddish brown the cheeks greyish white. The posterior surface of the 

 ears is greyish brown, above, white below. 



The outer side of the feet is reddish grey, the claws light brown. 

 The first third of the tail is grey above, like the back ; beneath, red- 



