10 CATALOGUE OF MAMMALS FROM NEW GUiN:iA. 
a distinct genus. The outer and inner toes of the fore-feet are very 
small, rudimentary and clawless. 
d. Dasyurina. 
PHAScoGALE (ANTECHINUS) MELAS. 
Phascogale (Antechinus) melas, Miller, Verhand. t. 25. f. 1-3. 
Hab, New Guinea (Miiller). 
The animal differs, according to the figure, in having the hair of 
the tail rather more elongated and spreading than the Australian 
species of the genus ; the dentition is more nearly allied to the Ante- 
chinus than to the new genus Myoictis sent home by Mr. Wallace. 
Myoictis. 
Myoictis, J. KE. Gray, Proc. Zoo]. Soc. 1858. 
Head tapering ; nose acute; whiskers strong. ‘Tail depressed, 
tapering, clothed with rather elongated hairs above and on the sides ; 
the under side flat, nakedish. Feet moderate; soles bald to. the 
heel ; toes 5°5, free, compressed ; claws acute ; first and fifth front 
toes equal ; second, third and fourth toes equal, longer ; hinder toes: 
free, weak, distinct, clawless ; thumb of hind-foot larger. Ears 
roundish, nakedish. Scrotum pendulous. 
Cutting teeth +; the upper with a central space in front between 
them, in a close series on each side, and with a small interspace be- 
tween them and the’canines ; the first tooth very small, hidden in the 
guns, the others all equal, lancet-shaped, rather crowded; the lower 
forming a continued series, shelving forward, all lancet-shaped, sub- 
equal; the front rather the longest and narrowest ; the hinder rather 
broader. 
Canines — conical ; the upper not quite developed, only slightly 
produced above the level of the other teeth ; the lower small. conical 
scarcely raised above the other teeth (figs. 3, 4). 
False grinders — conical, compressed ; the lower with a ‘very 
obscure, the upper with a rather more distinct, conical tuberele on 
the front and hinder edge (figs. 3, 4). 
True grinders —; the upper large, triangular, acutely lobed ; 
the lower compressed, very acutely lobed; the middle one in each 
jaw the largest. 
The angle of the lower jaw is produced, elongate and strongly in- 
flexed, as is usual in Marsupialia. 
Skull: length, 1 inch 3 lines ; width, all the zygomatic arch, 9 lines; 
length of the tooth-line 9 lines. Length of the lower jaw 114, of 
symphysis 44, of tooth-line 7} lines (figs. 1, 2, 3, 4). 
This genus is peculiar, because, as far as the dentition is concerned, 
there is no character by which we should have determined that it 
was a Marsupial animal; but the form of the angle of the lower 
jaw at once shows its true affinity to that group. It was not until a 
