MYRMECOBIUS FASCIA TUS. 145 



which is indistinct. The true molars are very small 

 and longer than broad ; those of the upper jaw pre- 

 sent numerous small black tubercles ; in the lower 

 jaw the outer edge of the molars is produced and 

 divided by notches, so as to leave three or four bristly 

 points in each ; on the outer side of each molar, 

 excepting the foremost, are several small blunt tuber- 

 cles, which must be nearly on a level with the gum in 

 the living animal ; between all the teeth both of the 

 upper and lower jaws, excepting the four posterior 

 molars of the lower jaw, there is a space which is 

 sometimes equal to the width of the teeth, but gene- 

 rally less. The ramus of the lower jaw is twisted in 

 such a manner that the outer surfaces of the true 

 molars come in contact with the masticating surface 

 of those of the upper jaw.* The fore-feet are fur- 

 nished with five toes, which are armed with strong, 

 curved, and slightly compressed claws ; on the hind- 

 feet there are but four toes, — their claws scarcely 

 diifer from those of the fore-feet. The tail is bushy 

 and not prehensile, 



BANDED MYRMECOBIUS. 



Myrmecohius fasciatus, 



Plate XI. 



Myrmecobius fasciatus, Waterh. Proc. Zool. Soc. for July 

 1836, p. 69_seealsop. 131. 



. Transactions of the Geol. Soc. Vol. II., 



part 2, p. 149, PI. 27. 



Size of a squirrel ; head very long and pointed ; 



* In the skull of Myrmecobius there is a large notch in the 

 upper boundary of the orbit, which, by some accident, is not 

 K 



