Mr. G. Krefft on a new Species of Dromicia. 241 



Jan. 27, 1863.— G. R. Waterhouse, V.P., in the Chair. 

 Description of a New Species of the Genus Dromicia, 



DISCOVERED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SyDNEY. By 



Gerard Krefft. 

 Dromicia unicolor, sp. nov. 



Bentition. — Incisors ^^. Canines ^. Prsemolars ^^ Mo- 

 lars ^. =36. 



Of the grinders in the upper jaw, two are large and four cuspidate; 

 but the last one is much smaller, of a triangular form, and furnished 

 with three cusps only. The prtemolars are three in number, of 

 which the posterior one is large, and furnished with two fangs and 

 two roots ; the other two are rudimentary, with flat surfaces ; there 

 is an interspace between these teeth and the long canine ; of the three 

 incisors the anterior one is the largest. 



In the lower jaw there are three true molars, with four cusps to 

 each, but the last or posterior one smaller than the other two ; these 

 are preceded by a large two-rooted false molar (which, in one speci- 

 men examined, is furnished with one, in the other with two fangs), 

 the anterior preemolars (two) and the canine being small and rudi- 

 mentary, with flat crowns ; the single incisor is very long. 



Coloration. — Fur of a uniform mouse-colour, lighter on the sides 

 and beneath, with a blackish patch in front of the eye. 



All the hairs are slate-grey at the base, tipped with yellowish at 

 the back and sides, and with grey beneath ; longer black hairs, tipped 

 with white, are interspersed, except on the underside of the body. 

 Bristles black to within one-third of the tip, which is white ; a few 

 long bristly black hairs before and behind the eye. Tail somewhat 

 longer than the body, prehensile, thin, showing every joint ; slightly 

 enlarged at the base, and gradually tapering ; covered with a mixture 

 of light-coloured and black hairs ; apical portion, about ^" from the 

 tip, wide beneath. 



inches. 



Length from tip to tip 6^ 



Tail 3^ 



Face, to base of ear ^ 



Ear i 



Arm and hand |- 



Tarsus and toes |- 



This beautiful little creature was captured near St. Leonard's, 

 North Shore, Sydney, feeding upon the blossoms of the Banksicd, 

 and lived a few days in captivity. In its habits it is nocturnal. The 

 tongue of this Dromicia is well adapted for sucking the honey from 

 the blossoms of the BanksicB and Eucalypti, being furnished with a 

 slight brush at the tip. This species differs from the D. concinna of 

 Western Australia in being of a uniform dark colour without the 

 white belly, and having the base of the tail slightly enlarged ; it is 

 of about the same size as B. concinna. 



