MARCH 



^g-;^"' STUDY OF MAMMALS DURING 1891. 37 



have at last obtained a definite connecting link between the Mono- 

 tremes and Alarsupials ; " and he is even inclined to think that the 

 creature will eventually have to be placed in the former group, now 

 represented, as we may remind our readers, solely by the Duck-bill 

 and the Echidnas. We fail, however, to detect any marked signs of 

 affinity with the latter group ; the large size of the clavicles, and the 

 abortion of the '* marsupial," or epipubic bones, on which stress has 

 been laid, not being characters of any ordinal importance. 



Having said thus much as to the affinities of this strange creature, 

 our readers who have not had the opportunity of studying the original 

 papers will naturally expect a few words as to its appearance and 

 habits. In length the new Marsupial Mole measures a little over six- 

 and-a-half inches, of which the tail takes rather more than an inch. 

 Its long and silky hair is of a golden red tint ; while the general form of 

 the body is mole-like (Fig. i). It has no externally visible eyes, neither 

 is it provided with distinct conchs to the ear. The short and stout 

 limbs are adapted for digging, and are each furnished with five digits. 

 Whereas, however, the digits of the hind limb (Fig. 2,Nos.4, 5) are sub- 

 equal in size, in the fore limb.(Fig. 2,Nos. 1,3) the claws of the third and 

 fourth digits are enormously developed, so as to form powerful digging 



Fig. I. — Under surface of the Marsupial Mole (Notoiyctes typlilops). ^ natural size. 

 After Stirling. 3 



organs, behind which the small claws of the other digits are concealed. 

 The muzzle of the animal is protected by a curious flat horny shield, 

 divided by a transverse ridge into two moieties ; and the tail is a 

 strange, leathery appendage, marked by conspicuous rings, and ter- 

 minating in a kind of knob. The teeth — especially those in the 

 anterior portions of the jaws — are small and feeble ; the hinder ones 

 being of that primitive type known as the tritubercular, that is to say, 

 those of the vipper jaw carry three distinct cusps arranged in a tri- 

 angle, with the apex directed inwardly. 



Notovyctes lives in or on the sand of the Australian deserts, 

 burrowing at a short distance beneath the surface, and emerging for 

 a time after travelling for longer or shorter distances below. When 

 entering the sand afresh, it starts in an oblique direction. The horny 

 shield on the nose serves as a protection to the conical snout in 



3 We are indebted to the Publisher of La Ndtitfc, Paiis, for this and the following figure. 



