154 MYRMECOBLUS CHAP. 
an interesting description of its habits. -Antechinomys has much 
the look of the Austrahan Rat, Hapalotis mitchelli ; and as the 
two animals lead a similar kind of life, the resemblance is not 
unexpected. Professor Spencer wonders why these creatures are 
saltatory in habit. The country which they inhabit is arid, but 
with patches of grass and shrubs. For a big kangaroo the 
advantage of the power of leapimg over such obstacles may be 
obvious, but not for the small and slender Antechinomys. The 
chief foes of this rare Marsupial appear to be predatory birds; 
and Professor Spencer thinks that the saltatory mode of pro- 
gression may be more baffling to such pursuers than even a 
rapid run, 
The genus Dasyuroides has been lately instituted by Professor 
Spencer for a Marsupial from Central Australia somewhat in- 
termediate between Sminthopsis and Phascologale. As there 1s 
but one species, the generic will be considered with the specific 
characters. D. byrnet is an animal of about the size of the 
Common Rat. The hallux is absent. The tail is fairly thick, 
but not “incrassated.” There are six mammae, and the pouch is 
but slightly developed, with two low lateral folds. The dentition 
is T4 C+ Pm3 M4. This Marsupial is nocturnal, and burrow- 
ing in habit. Its food consists of insects." 
Myrmecobius is so different from the last-described genera (1) Asy- 
URINAE) that it is usually separated from them as a sub-family 
MyrMecosuNak. The animal is of a bright rufous colour, banded 
posteriorly with white. There is no hallux, though the metatarsal 
belonging to that digit is present. There are four mammae.” 
On the chest is a naked patch of some extent, upon which open 
the ducts of a complex gland, which has been described and 
figured by myself. There is no pouch, but a tract of skin 
shows indications of a pouch-like structure. The teeth are 
extraordinarily numerous, fifty to fifty-four; the formula being 
I 54 C+ Pm3 M8. Their resemblance to those of certain Jur- 
assic Marsupials is dealt with on p. 100.* In this matter les of 
' Horn Scientific Expedition, pt. ii. Zoology, 1896, p. 36. 
2 Leche found five, and Waterhouse stated eight to be the number. 
® Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, p. 527. See also Leche, Biol. Foren. Férhandl. 1891, p. 
136, and literature quoted. 
' Traces of horny pads, like those of the Duck-bill, have been asserted to exist 
in this animal. This is exceedingly interesting when regarded in conjunction 
with its multitubereculate molars. 
