195 



F5traight, extending far behind the eye ; adult males ^Yith 

 the lower jaw prominent ; teeth of moderate size ; proeo- 

 perculum short in a longitudinal direction, with the lower 

 limb very indistinct ; fins moderately developed ; the length 

 of the pectoral is about one-half of the distance of its root 

 from that of the ventral ; dorsal as high or higher than long ; 

 caudal truncate in adults, lunate in the young ; body with 

 numerous pale red spots ; fins generally with black and 

 orange (or white) marginal band ; dorsal fin with transverse 

 series of brown or black spots. A native of the rivers and 

 lakes of North America. 



This species has recently been introduced to Tasmania by 

 the Salmon Commissioners, from New Zealand, where it has 

 been successfully established. It is said to be greatly 

 superior to the English brown trout, and to be equally 

 hardy. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MUS, WITH 



A LIST OF THE TEERESTRIAL ANIMALS OF 



TASMANIA, 



By E. T. Higgins, M.R.C.S., Eng., and W. F. Petterd, 



C.M.Z.S. 



[Bead lOth Sejjtemher, 1883.] 



Mus Tetragonurus. — Nov. Spec, q 



Quadrangular Tailed Rat. 



Form stout. Head short and broad. Muzzle rounded. Fur 



very long, soft, dark ashy-grey on the back, annulated with a 



paler tint, thickly interspersed with longer dark brown, almost 



black, hair; under surface slatey-grey.lips and chin slatey-grey. 



Ears short, broadly rounded, clothed sparsely internally, and 



thickly externally with short hairs of an ashy- grey colour. 



Whiskers dark brown, of the same length as the head. Foro 



legs short. Fore and hind feet clothed on the upper surface 



with ashy-grey hair; under surface naked, dark brown. 



Tail short quadrangular, sparingly clothed with dark brown 



hair, through which the scales, which are of moderate size, 



can be distinctly seen. The yoimg resemble the full grown 



specimens in colour of fur, and quadrangular shape of tail. 



Length from tip of nose to root of tail ... 6 inches 



„ of tail .3,^ ,, 



,, from nose to eye h „ 



„ from nose to ear ly;.; „ 



.» of ear ;;^ „ 



Width of ear ^^ „ 



Length of fore feet and nails ,\y „ 



„ of hind feet and nails l] „ 



