Wood Jones — Thalacomys 



347 



Dimensions of Skull. 



Greatest length . . 

 Basal length . . . . 

 Zygomatic breadth 



Adult 



66 

 34 



Nasals, length 32 



Palate, length 41 



Ci— M^ 28 



THALACOMYS NIGRIPES sp. nov. 



The animal is almost the same size as T. sagitta, and therefore smaller than 

 T. lagotis and larger than T. minor. In general eolour it is niueh as T. Uigotis, 

 being darker and more fawn coloured immediately after the monlt, and lighter 

 and more silvery immediately before it. The general body colour becomes darker 

 upon the dorsal surface towards the hind end of the bod.y ; the tips of the long 

 hairs of the posterior end of the body being black. At the immediate base of the 

 tail the dark hairs give way to rather bright fawn-coloured ones over a distance 

 of about 30 mm. The naked rhinarium is flesh coloured, grooved upon its labial 

 portion, and extending backwards dorsally for about 20 mm. Face fawn 





,^,! 



Fig. S.58. T. vir/ripcs. From a liviiifj; male specimen. The terminal portion of the tail is 

 represented erect merely for compactness in reproduction. About one-tliird natural size. 



coloured. The dorsal surface of the snout, immediately behind the naked 

 rhinarium, and as far back as the middle of the eye, is black. Fine black hairs 

 also surround the eye. Sides of the body more fawn coloured than the dorsal 

 surface. Chin, throat, and ventral surface pure white. The hair is directed 

 uniformly backwards on the body, save that there is a reversed gular tract, as in 

 the bandicoots. Fore limb dark as a whole upon its outer and dorsal aspects; 

 white on the inner and ventral side. The proximal (humeral) portion dark grey, 

 increasingly dark as it is traced downwards; the forearm, wrist, and dorsum of the 



