MAUROPUS DORSALIS. 231 



of the same character and colour as that on the top 

 of the head ; tarsi whitish at the base, grizzled with 

 white and dark brown in the middle, and the hairs 

 over the toes are of a very dark brown colour almost 

 black ; a transverse whitish mark is observable on 

 the haunches ; about three inches of the tail, at the 

 base, is covered with fur of the same texture and 

 colour as the body ; the rest of the tail is but spar- 

 ingly clothed, the hairs are very small and rather 

 harsh and do not hide the scales ; the general tint is 

 grey; on the under side of the tail the hairs are much 

 longer and more dense, and they are of a dirty pale 

 yellow colour; the fore-foot is rather long and slender. 



Length from nose to root of tail, 27 inches ; tail, 

 21 inches ; tarsus, (without the claws) G^ inches ; 

 fore arm, 3 inches 4 lines; from nose to ear, 4 inches 

 8 lines ; ear, 2 inches 5 lines. 



Habitat, New South Wales. 



The specimen from which this description is taken 

 is also the original of Mr. Gray's description. Its 

 general colouring is pale, but upon separating the fur 

 of the back, I perceive that it was killed when shed- 

 ding the fur, (the new hair making its appearance ;) 

 no doubt it would have a somewhat deeper hue at 

 other times. This species is closely allied to M. 

 rujicollis and M. rufo-griseus, but is of a smaller size, 

 and is distinguishable by the black line on its back ; 

 its colouring and proportions will not admit of its 

 being confounded with the M. Derbianus, another 

 species having a black mark on the back ; in that 

 animal, however, it is most distinct on the back of 



