188 On a new Genus and Species o/Didelphyida3. 



confined to a narrow strip about half an inch long on the 

 underside of the tip. 



Skull in its general form rather smooth and rounded, with 

 a large rounded brain-case and short muzzle. Nasals ex- 

 panded behind. Interorbital region broad, convex, scarcely 

 flattened, its edges without beads or ridges ; temporal ridges 

 obsolete. Palate broad, the line of the incisors more serai- 

 circular than usual ; anterior palatine foramina very short, 

 only extending to the level of the back of iii ; broadest point 

 of palate at the front of ^^ instead of at the back. Posterior 

 nares broad, their mesial septum continued back some way as 

 a narrow ridge along the base of the skull. 



Teeth as described above. 



Dimensions of the type (B. M. 92.5.9.3), an aged male, 

 preserved as a skin : — 



Head and body (c.) 126 millim. ; tail (c.) 102 ; hind foot 

 (damped and extended) 18 ; ear, from notch, 14. 



Skull: basal length 26; greatest breadth 16*8; nasals, 

 length 11"1, greatest breadth 4*4, least breadth 1*9 ; inter- 

 orbital constriction 53 ; palate, length 14, breadth outside 

 Eli 10 ; palatal foramen 1*6. 



Teeth : height of upper canine behind 1'3 ; horizontal 

 length of ILi 1*0; combined length of ""• ^'^ 4*6, of four lower 

 molars 5"8. 



Hab. Huite, N.E. Chiloe Island. " Taken in the fork of 

 a large tree." 



Coll. Dr. Robert O. Cunningham, H.M.S. 'Nassau,' 

 May 20, 1868. 



This interesting little opossum is that referred to by 

 Dr. Cunningham, in his ' Notes on the Natural History of the 

 Straits of Magellan ' *, as Didelphys elegans, to which it has 

 a certain superficial resemblance. The specimen was presented 

 by him to Prof. Huxley, and in 1892 was given to the 

 Museum by the latter's successor, Prof. G. B. Howes. The 

 ' Catalogue of Marsupials ' being finished, the skin was, on 

 Cunningham's authority, put away as D. elegans, and it was 

 only during the examination necessary in working out the 

 first pait of this paper that its striking characteristics were 

 noticed. 



* P. 362 (1871). 



