50 MR. R. F. TOMES ON A NEW GENUS OF MARSUPIALS. [Jan. 27, 



the anterior prsemolars (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 in front 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 3i 



Face, to base of ear | 



Ear i 



Arm and hands -1 



Tarsi and toes f 



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

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

 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 Banksice 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 D. concinna. 



2. Notice of a New American Form of Marsupial. 

 By R. F. Tomes, Corr. Memb. 



(Plate VIIL) 



Genus Hyracodon, Tomes. 



General form somewhat slender. Tail as long as the head and 

 body, tapering evenly to a fine point. Feet long, and furnished with 

 an opposable thumb ; nails somewhat long and pointed. Head 

 rather long ; muzzle pointed ; ears of medium size, ovoid. Upper 

 incisors : middle teeth simple, pointed, small, and in a vertical posi- 

 tion ; the following two large, thick, and short, but having a semi- 

 acute point, which has a very backward direction ; the following one, 

 or fourth, similar, but very small ; the fifth, or canine, separated 

 from the preceding by a considerable interval, small, conical, acute, 

 and nearly vertical in position ; the two succeeding teeth nearly 

 similar. Lower incisors : middle teeth long, nearly straight, and 

 horizontal in position, as in the Shrews ; the four following teeth 

 more or less conical in form, closely packed together, and sloping 



