﻿I7S ALLEN^S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



Stated that a larger series of specimens than is now available in 

 Enghsh collections is required before they can be fully defined. 



I. THICK-TAILED POUCHED MOUSE. SMIXTHOPSIS 

 CRASSICAUDATA. 



Phascologale C7'assicaudala^ Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1844, p. 105. 

 Podabnis crassicaudaius^ Gould, Mamm. Australia, pi. xlvii. 



(1845). 

 Podabj'us 7nac?'unis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1845, P- 79* 

 A?itechimis { Podabrus) froggatti^ Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 



South Wales, ser. 2, vol. ii., p. 552 (1887). 

 Sminthopsis crassicaiidata^ Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., 



p. 306 (1888). 



Characters. — Size small ; form light and delicate ; fur very 

 soft and fine. General colour clear ashy grey ; chin white ; 

 under-parts greyish-white. Ears very large and rather pointed, 

 the anterior portion of their backs dark brown, forming a 

 marked contrast with the lighter posterior part. Feet white. 

 Soles of hind feet clothed for the greater portion of their extent 

 with velvety hairs, the naked parts granulated, without distinct 

 striated pads. Tail short, thickened, tapering, grey above, and 

 white beneath. Ten teats. Length of head and body about 

 3^ inches ; of tail 2 inches. 



Distribution. — All Australia except the extreme north. 



Habits. — According to Krefft, this pretty little species breeds 

 in ]uly and August, the female producing from six to nine 

 young, which are placed in the shallow pouch. Occasionally, 

 however, as many as ten are born in a litter. At times the 

 creature utters a kind of hoarse screech ; but except for this is 



silent. 



In confinement it appears to thrive fairly well ; but if two or 

 more aie left together, they are almost sure to fall out, and 



