430 On Mammals from Ceram» 



Ehynchomeles^, gen. nov. 



Fur completely non-spinous. Upper incisors 4. Teeth 

 very small. 



Most nearly related to Echymipera and Perorj/c^es, agreeing 

 with the former in the numher of incisors and with the latter 

 in the even more completely non-spinous character of tiie fur. 

 Ears short. Proportions of feet and strength of claws as in 

 Echymipera. Tail neither so short as in Eohymipera nor so 

 long as in Peroryctes. 



Skull extraordinarily long and slender, the muzzle espe- 

 cially being quite unique in this respect. Other skull- 

 characters about as in Echymipera. 



Incisors |, Teeth all very small and delicate, widely 

 spaced owing to the elongation of the muzzle ; sectorial (p^) 

 more robust in build than the other teeth. Molars more 

 triangular, owing to the hypocone being nearly obsolete 

 instead of well-marked. Last molar especially small, its 

 inner lobe much reduced, so that it does not reach inwards to 

 the level of the inner lobes of the tliree anterior molariform 

 teeth ; in the older known genera it projects further inwards 

 than they do. 



Genotype. Rhynchomeles prattorum, sp. n. 



With tiie incisive formula of Echymipera, this genus has 

 even more completely spineless fur than Peroryctes, while the 

 proportions of its claws and feet are more as in the former. 

 It is unique in its excessively slender muzzle and reduced 

 teetii, and evidently deserves a special genus of its own. 



Rhynchomeles prattorum, sp. n. 



Fur crisp, velvety, not spinous ; hairs of back about 14 mm. 

 in length. General colour above a uniform dark chocolate- 

 brown, rather otter-like, not closely matching any colour in 

 Ridgway ; bases of the hairs whitish brown. Under surface 

 practically the same or a little lighter — a strongly contrasted 

 white patch of very variable size on the chest. Muzzle 

 naked both on top and sides. Ears small, oval, brown. 

 Head and forearms rather lighter than back, a white patch 

 sometimes present on the wrist. Upper surface of hands 

 nearly naked, the few fine hairs whitish. Feet pale brown. 

 Tail rather less than twice the length of head, practically 

 naked, blackish brown. 



* As has been done in the case of Brachymeles and Anuromeles, the 

 word meles is here taken as an essential part of the name Perameles, not 

 as the Latin for badger. 



