840 DR.J.MURIE ON THE SPECIES OF PHASCOLOMYS. [Dec. 12, 
it became a point of interest to examine the body, and particularly 
the skull, with the endeavour to set the disputed point at rest. 
For this purpose, and in order to learn how far this specimen 
agrees or differs from the supposed P. latifrons of Mr. Angas and 
Prof. M‘Coy, the colour, aspect, and dimensions may first be noted. 
This I consider the more desirable as, although Mr. Gould has 
signified that those observers had the same animal under their con- 
sideration, yet he has not compared in detail the appearance of the 
Society’s specimen. 
The two sides of the body of this (the skin of which is now de- 
posited in the National Collection) are of a lightish grey, tinged 
with brown (the silvery mouse-colour of Angas). This is produced 
by the roots of the hairs being of a dark brown, their points, for 
half an inch or so, tipped with white and buff ; while widely scattered 
through the whole are single black hairs. Here and there wavy 
mottled lines are seen, where a preponderance of the dark or light 
tints run side by side. The upper surface of the neck, the shoulders, 
and back, almost as far as the loins, are of a darker brown, caused 
by the hairs terminating in an umber-colour. 
The broad, somewhat truncated posterior extremity of the body 
is of a more rufous tint, and the hairs are stronger and longer, rough, 
and directed inwards, or in an opposed line to those of the back 
(the circular rosettes of M‘Coy). 
The under surface of neck, chest, and inside of fore limbs is white, 
the continuation of this in the abdomen and inside of hind legs 
merging into a light rufous tint, which joins the similar but rather 
darker hue of the rump of the animal. 
The outsides of the hind limbs are also of a rufous brown, of the 
fore limbs less so, inclining to the same shade as the sides of the body. 
The posterior border of each of the fore limbs has a projecting white 
fringe of longer hairs, the continuation of those from the axilla. The 
feet are hairy to the proximal end of the claws, and of a hazel-brown. 
Upper surface of the forehead lighter than the back of the neck, 
but of a similar shade to the sides of the body. There is a whitish- 
grey spot above and below the eyes, and a large triangular black 
portion at each inner and outer canthus. Upon the centre of the 
forehead, ketween the eyes, is a black or dark-coloured spot. 
The eyelashes and cheek-whiskers have strong black hairs, inter- 
mixed with one or two white ones. The tip of the nose and around 
the nostrils is white (this may have been more flesh-coloured when 
the animal was alive) ; the bridge of the nose above this is of a drab 
tint, and covered with very short smooth hairs. There is a similar 
coloured patch upon the under surface of the mandible; but the root 
of the lower jaws is of a yellowish colour, lost in the white of the neck. 
The backs of the ears are similar to the neck ; but there is a tuft of 
long white hairs on their outer base, and inside they are covered by 
short, stiff, appressed whitish hairs. 
P. lasiorhinus is also rather longer and broader in the body than 
P. wombat ; the ears are long and elliptically pointed, instead of 
being short and rounded ; and the face is broader ; but this is in part 
