MARSUPIALIA. 85 



PHABCOGAI.E, Temm. 



The same number of teeth as the Thylacini, but the middle incisors are 

 longer than the others, and the back molars more bristled, circumstances 

 which approximate them more closely to the Sarigues. They are also 

 allied to them by their small size; their tail however is not prehensile; 

 their hind thumb, though very short, is still very apparent. 



Did. penicillata, Shaw. Ash coloured; tail furnished with long black 

 hairs; size that of the Norway Rat; lives on the trees in New Holland, and 

 pursues insects. 



DASYURUS, Geoff.(l) 



Two incisors and four grinders in each jaw less than the Opossums, so that 

 they have only forty-two teeth; their tail, every where covered with long 

 hairs, is not prehensile. The thumb of the hind foot is reduced to a tu- 

 bercle, or has even totally disappeared. They are from New Holland, 

 where they feed on Insects and dead bodies; they penetrate into houses, 

 where their voracity is very inconvenient. Their mouth is not so wide, 

 their muzzle not so pointed as those of the Opossums; their hairy ears 

 are also shorter. They do not climb trees. 



Did. ursina, Harr. (The Ursine Opossum.) Long rough black hairs, 

 with some irregularly placed white spots; the tail half as long as the body, 

 almost naked underneath. Inhabits the north of Van Dieman's Land, and 

 is nearly the size of the Badger. 



PERAMELES, Geoff. (2) THYIACIS, Illig. 



The thumb of the hind foot short, like the first Dasyuri, and the two 

 following toes united by the membrane as far the nails; the thumb and the 

 little toe of their fore feet are simple tubercles, so that there seem to be 

 but three toes. They have ten incisors above, the external ones separate 

 and pointed, and only six below; but their molars are the same as in the 

 Opossums, so that they have forty-eight teeth. Their tail is hairy, and not 

 prehensile. The great claws of their fore feet announce their habit of 

 digging in the earth; and the tolerable length of their hind ones, a swift- 

 ness of gait. 



P. nasutus, Geoff. The muzzle much elongated; ears pointed; fur a 

 greyish brown. At the first glance it resembles a Tenrec. 



The species belonging to the second subdivision of the Marsu- 

 pialia have two broad and long incisors in the lower jaw with pointed 

 and trenchant edges sloping forwards, and six corresponding ones in 

 the upper jaw. Their superior canini are also long and pointed, 

 but all their inferior ones consist of teeth so small that they are fre- 



(1) Dasyurus, hairy tail. (2) Pera, purse, Meks, badger. 



