122 THE DASYURES. 



species of mucli smaller size than either of the two 

 preceding, the four known species of T>asyurus 

 being but little inferior to the common cat in size or 

 equal to it, whilst the largest Phascogale is scarcely 

 equal to a full grown rat. In this genus the toes 

 of the fore-feet are more slender and elongated than 

 in Das2/urus, and so are those of the hind-feet, the 

 claws are also longer and more curved: circumstances 

 which would lead us to believe they climb trees — 

 at least occasionally. The thumb on the hind-foot 

 is small and nailess : there are five toes to the fore- 

 feet, and four, besides the thumb, to the hind-feet : 

 tlie fleshy pads on the under side of the toes of the 

 hind-feet are very large. The tip of the muzzle is 

 naked and divided in the middle by a longitudinal 

 groove. The ears are of moderate size, their poste- 

 rior edge is emarginated, and they are naked, or but 

 sparingly clothed with hairs. In dentition they 

 approach still more near to the Opossums than the 

 typical Dasyures — the teeth are : — 



Incisors, f ; canines, \\\ ; false molars, |:| ; 

 true molars, |:|=46. The two foremost incisors 

 of the upper jaw are decidedly larger than the rest, 

 and Separated from them by a small interspace ; the 

 other incisors are arranged three on each side, and 

 placed closely together ; in these respects resembling 

 the Opossums more nearly than Dasyurus, in which 

 the incisors are arranged in nearly a semicircle, and 

 are of equal size, or very nearly so. The incisors of 

 the lower jaw are inclined forwards and but slightly 

 upwards; the central pair are the largest. The canines 



