Prof. F. M'Coy on a new Genus of Phalanger. 287 



XXXVI. — On a new Genus of Phalanger. By Frederick 

 M'CoY, Professor of Natural Science in the Melbourne Uni- 

 versity, and Director of the National Museum of Victoria. 



[Plate VI.J 



Gymnobelideus (M'Coy), nov. gen. 



Teeth and general form of Belideus, but destitute of the lateral 

 cloak-like parachute or flank-membrane, and having on the fore 

 feet the inner finger or thumb shortest, the second longer, the 

 third longer than the second, the fourth longest, the fifth or 

 outer toe shorter than the third, but longer than the second. 

 On the hind feet the inner toe or thumb is succeeded by two of 

 nearly equal size, more slender and shorter than the others, and 

 united together as far as the base of the last joint. The thumbs 

 of the hind feet are without nails, and the claws of all the other 

 toes are small, and exceeded in length by the prominent wrinkled 

 pads on the underside. The ears are large, semielliptical, and 

 nearly naked towards the tips. Dental formula : — incisors \^ 

 canines i, premolars |, molars i = 40. 



In general appearance this curious animal is intermediate be- 

 tween Belideus and Phascogale ; but its nearest affinity is with the 

 former, from which the absence of the flank-membrane and the 

 different form of the feet distinguish it. There is only one species 

 known, which occurs in the scrub on the banks of the Bass River, 

 in Victoria. I name it after the skilful taxidermist of our Public 

 Museum, in which specimens of both sexes are preserved. 



Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri (M'Coy). 



Upper surface brownish grey, with a blackish dusky streak 

 from the top of the head along the back to the sacrum ; there 

 is a dark patch under the base of the ear, and a fainter one be- 

 fore and behind the eye. Under surface dull yellowish ; tail 

 rather lighter than the back, and lightest at the tip. Head like 

 that of Belideus breviceps, but with a sHghtly sharper snout. 

 The tail has the fur no longer on the basal half than on the 

 back, the apical third of the length being gradually more bushy, 

 from the greater length of the hair. Ears brown. The fur of 

 the body is soft and dense, the hairs grey at the base, and 

 blackish and tipped with brownish white at the end ; the fur of 

 the tail is brownish throughout. Teeth : anterior incisor above 

 more than twice the length of the others, and rather broader 

 near the edge than at the base; second incisor shorter than 

 the third, which is triangular ; space between third incisor and 

 canine equal to length of second incisor ; canine conical, shorter 

 than the first, but longer than the third incisor ; space between 



