On a Collection of Mammals from Central and Nortliern Queensland. 927 



A. Herbert Vale, Dec. 1882 (skin with skull). 



B. Herbert Vale, Dec. 1882 (incomplete skeleton). 



C. Coomooboolaroo, Jan. 1884 (skin with skull). 



D. Male. Coomooboolaroo, Jan. 1884 (skin with skull). 



E. (]alliungal 13 June 1881 (skin with skull). 



As above related, there are 4 skins with their skulls, as well as 

 1 incomplete skeleton of a Petaurista in the collection , which in all 

 their chief features are closely allied to P. volans of South Australia, 

 but diil'er from this in several minor points , which possibly may be 

 of specific importance; the probability is, however, that individuals 

 from the intermediate localities show transitional stages, and accor- 

 dingly I have classed the Queensland form as a variety only. 



As will be seen from a short note in „Zoologischer Anzeiger", 

 28"' Febr. 1887, (p. 128), de Vis has already noted a diöereuce be- 

 tween the South Australian Petaurista and specimens from the 

 Herbert River, but as yet, while these lines are in the press, I am 

 unacquainted with the results of his investigations. 



In Order to make coraparisons, I have, through the kindness of 

 Prof. LüTKEN, had an opportunity of examining 2 specimens of the South 

 Australian type, belonging to the Copenhagen Museum. All the spe- 

 cimens from Queensland, which are pretty equal in size, and appear 

 to have been fully grown, are very considerably smaller, the 

 average leugth of the body from the end of the snout to the root of 

 the tail being about 350 mm, the length of the tail about 340 mm, 

 the breadth of the body (with the parachute but slightly extended) 

 about 170 mm. The size of their skulls is given further on. 



No comparative difference in the size of the ears in the specimens 

 from South Australia and those from Queensland can be detected. 



In the dentition it may be noticed that the front premolar is but 

 rudimentary, or sometimes entirely wanting; where it is found, it 

 is generally placed nearer to p^ than to c. The upper canine is also 

 very small, or almost rudimentary, but not wanting. 



This species appears to be frequent in Central and Northern 

 Queensland. It is hunted by the natives in the gum trees, in the 

 holes of which they hide themselves during the day, and are driven 

 out by means of a long and slender stick. 



All four specimens in their colouring belong to the light variety, 

 which has a whitish belly, a uniform greyish brown back, with greyish 

 white tips to the hairs, and black feet. One specimen (E) is lighter 

 than the others; the head is whitish, and the large and long-haired 



Zoolog. Jahrb. II. 59 



