434 MR. G. KREFFT ON THE AUSTRALIAN DASYURID.E. [Nov. 22, 



the skin ; a well-preserved full-grown animal would probably mea- 

 sure more. The skull is perfect, the form of the teeth approaching 

 those of P. lanigera ; the first two incisors in the upper jaw are 

 slightly pushed forward, though not longer than the others ; there 

 is a space about the size of a tooth between the last incisor and the 

 canine, which has been broken at the root, but, as far as I can see, 

 has not been larger than the third premolar. The molars present 

 the usual triangular shape ; the second is the largest ; the fourth 

 narrow and transverse. There are three incisors, of almost equal size, 

 in the lower jaw ; a pair of slender rather curved canines, which are 

 not so broad at the base as those of Phascogale proper ; three pre- 

 molars, of which the second is the largest, the first and third being 

 about equal ; and four molars, the middle two of equal size and 

 larger than the first and fourth. 



Hab. The interior of New South Wales 1 



Antechinomys, gen. nov. 



The Dasyuridse which I propose to arrange under the above name 

 will comprise those truly terrestrial animals which are provided with 

 only four toes on the hind foot, without any indication of a thumb, 

 which have the tarsi completely covered with hair, and the under- 

 side of the toes and foot alone naked. They move by a succession of 

 jumps, and have a tail longer than their body. 



Dentition like Podabrus, with the canines still less developed. 



At present this genus would comprise a single species only, namely, 

 the animal described by Mr. Gould as Phascogale lanigera. 



Antechinomys lanigera (Gould, Mamm. Austr. i. pi. 33). 



I think that naturalists will agree with me, that an animal so dif- 

 ferent in its habits, the structure of its limbs, and the form of its 

 teeth from Phascogale should have long ago been separated there- 

 from. I have not the least doubt that the little animal figured in 

 the ' Mammals of Australia ' upon the branch of a tree with only 

 four toes is identical with another in this Museum, presented by the 

 late Sir Thomas Mitchell ; and as I have had many opportunities of 

 observing it alive, I can confidently state that it is a truly terrestrial 

 species. 



Hab. The Lower Murray River district, near the junction of the 



Darling. 



Ch^tocercus, gen. nov. 



This new genus, which will conclude the small Dasyuridae of 

 Australia, has been founded upon a very singular animal, approaching 

 in its dentition Dasyurus proper much more than any other known 

 genus, and may be defined as follows : — 



Dasyuridae with short, broad, almost triangular head and strongly 

 developed auditory bulla, which equals that of Phascogale penicil- 

 lata in size. Canine teeth in the upper jaw strong and elongate, not 

 so broad at the base as in the genus Phascogale. Incisors long and 



