8 MYRMECOBIINE. 
absent ; the other toes subequal. Stomach simple. Ccecum absent. 
Pouch, when present, opening forwards or downwards, sometimes 
rudimentary, rarely obsolete. 
Subfamily [.—Myrmecosun2. 
Tongue long, cylindrical, and extensile. Rhinarium naked, 
grooved below. Lower lip pointed, projecting beyond the teeth. 
Chest with a complex gland opening to the surface by several large 
and distinct apertures. Molars small and delicate, more than four 
in number in each ramus, those of the lower jaw with the inner 
cusps larger than the outer. 
Genus I—MYRMECOBIUS, Waterhouse (1836). 
Form graceful and squirrel-like. Ears long and narrow. Toes 
5 — 4, provided with long fossorial claws; hallux absent externally. 
Palms naked, soles partially so; pads small and granulated. Tail 
long and bushy. Pouch obsolete. Mamme four (Zhomas), but 
Gilbert states (Gould, Mamm. Austr.) that he has ‘observed 
seven young attached to the nipples.” 
1.2.3.4 1.0.3.4 1.2.3.4.5.0 
Dentition.—I. 753) (eres eng ap oe aReeROe eS OU Eee 
Habits.—Terrestrial ; LebSreAl ; insectivorous. 
Note.—A fourth incisor is rarely present in the lower jaw. 
1. Myrmecosius Fasciatus, Waterhouse (1836). 
Marsupial Anteater. 
Fur short, close, and hispid. General color above bright 
rufous, grizzled on the head, darkening posteriorly, where it is 
transversely banded with white; a white stripe over each eye ; 
below clear pale yellow. Ears pointed, clothed with close, short 
hairs, rufous behind, yellowish inside. Claws dark horn-color. 
Third finger shorter than second or fourth. Palms with five 
small, round, finely granulated pads ; soles hairy along the edges, 
with only three pads. Tail long-haired above, shorter-haired 
below; the former grizzled yellow and black, the latter rich rufous. 
Dimensions.—Head and body about ten inches; tail about 
seven inches. 
Habitat.—South and West Australia. 
References.—Thomas, B.M. Catal. p. 312, pl. xxiii. fig. 10 (sole ); 
Gould, Mamm. Austr. i. pl. iv. 
Note.—Mr. Thomas remarks :—The chief interest of this 
remarkable genus lies in its close resemblance and, presumably, 
relationship to the Mesozoic Polyprotodont Marsupials (Phascolo- 
theriwm, Amphilestes, &c.) of the English Jurassic beds, the resem- 
