22 



corresponcls to the palm is the cleft between the two rows of 

 digits. The hind limbs are also short, with the soles turned out- 

 wards. What appears to be the fifth (anterior) digit is very short, 

 with a short, broad, and strong nail ; the fourth is armed with a 

 long (seven mm.), narrow, curved, and sharp claw ; while the 

 claws of the third, second, and first are broad, flat, rounded at 

 their points, and joined together by a membrane which extends 

 nearly to their points. On the sole there is a hard, elongated, 

 horny tubercle crossing it transversely. The tail, two cm. long 

 and five mm. wide at the insertion, tapers to three mm., and ter- 

 minates in a knob-like tip. 



About 15 mm. in front of the vent (? cloaca) there is a pouch 

 in the integument about 4 mm. wide with the opening directed 

 backwards and having a depth in a forward direction of from 

 4 to 5 mm. The surface of this pouch is devoid of hair, but the 

 bare area is surrounded by thick faw^n coloured fur with a slightly 

 reddish tint. It is, however, possible that this reddish tint is 

 due w^holly or in part to some ferruginous looking sand which is 

 much mixed up with the fur. The body generally, with the 

 exception of the lower two-thirds of the tail, which is bare, is 

 covered with fur of a rather lighter tint. 



With regard to the internal parts, it is unfortunate that the 

 specimen came to us completely eviscerated and in a bad state of 

 preservation generally, but in a small part of the lower bowel 

 Avhich was left remains of ants were found. The bowel termin- 

 ates at a wide vent (? cloaca) and I can find no trace of a separate 

 genital aperture, nor of such openings into the supposed cloaca. 



I have not yet had time to examine with minuteness the 

 skeleton, which unfortunately is also considerably damaged, 

 especially about the occipital region, but from a cursory examina- 

 tion of the recently skinned body I can note the following points, 

 with, I believe, accuracy : — Cranium relatively large ; no bony 

 orbits ; zygomatic arches present. Well developed shoulder 

 girdles with slender clavicles. Pectoral muscles large. Pelvis 

 large and strong, with a rather wide pubic symphysis, but no 

 epipubic bones either actual or rudimentary. Ribs, 14. Angle 

 of lower jaw markedly inflected. The teeth are peculiar, and 

 require a more extended description than I can give at present, 

 but the formula appears to be i. -|, c. ^, m. f (? ^x^) ^ ^^^^^ how- 

 ever may require some modification, as just posterior and external 

 to the pra?molar (or first molar) of the right ramus of the 

 mandible there is a small rudimentary conical tooth which is not 

 to be found on the opposite side or at corresponding positions in 

 the maxilla. 



Until a more extended examination has been made of the 

 skeleton and teeth of this animal, I purposely abstain from ex- 



