Species of Ralhit- Bandicoot. 399 



proper by their short multicuspiclate crowns and by the much 

 earlier period at which they form roots, the roots of the two 

 anterior molars being already formed and closed up in the 

 type specimen, young as it is, while in P. lagotis the crowns 

 are very long and the roots do not close up until quite late 

 in life. 



Lower teeth differing, tooth by tooth, from those of P. la- 

 gotis e:s.2Lci\j as do those in the upper jaw. 



Dimensions of the type, a young male in spirit : — 



Head and body 142 millim. ; tail 116; hind foot 55; ear 

 (above crown) 63. 



Skull: basal length 45; greatest breadth 22*5; nasals, 

 length 18, greatest breadth 4-5; interorbital breadth 10; 

 palate_, length 27-7. 



Teeth, as compared to those of an immature specimen of 

 P. lagotis : — 



P. leucura. P. lagotis. 



Uppei'. Lower. 



Incisor series, length 5-4 3-9 



Pm.i, liorizontal length 3-0 3-0 



Pm.3, „ „ 3-0 3-2 



Milkpm.^ ,, „ 1-1 1-1 



M.i and m.% combined lengths 7'0 1\ 



The occurrence of this second species of the remarkable 

 genus Peragale is a matter of considerable interest, especially 

 as the new form is a very prominent and handsome animal, 

 and one that it is surprising has not been discovered before. 

 It is much to be hoped that the true home of this beautiful 

 species will soon be found out, and that the publication of its 

 description will result in more specimens becoming available 

 for scientific examination. 



Judging by the pale colour of its fur it is evident that 

 P. leucura is more distinctly an inhabitant of sandy country 

 than P. lagotis^ such a coloration being a well-known charac- 

 teristic of desert animals ; and we may therefore expect that 

 the home of this species will be found to be the vast sandy 

 plains of the interior, and, considering the history of the col- 

 lection, probably those of the central or northern parts of tlie 

 colony of South Australia. 



28* 



