1906.] MAMMALS PROM NORTHERN AUSTRALIA. 543 



after his description was published. Dr. Collett's examples were 

 from the Daly River, so that Alexandria is to a certain extent 

 intermediate between the two localities. 



16. Sminthopsis stalkeri, sp. n. 



6. 174, 175. S.W. of Ah'oy, 800'. 



A small species coloured like /S. larapinta, but with more hairy 

 soles and shorter tail. 



Size i-ather less than in S. larapinta, but neither of the two 

 specimens is more than just adult. Fur soft and fine, about 

 6 mm. long on the back. General colour above more bufTy than 

 in *S'. larapinta, the light rings on the hairs dull cream-bviff, their 

 fine tips dark brown. Under surface creamy white, the extreme 

 bases of the hairs slaty. Head like back, a dark line on the 

 forehead between the eyes, not so distinct or so long as in 

 S. larapinta. Ears of medium length, quite unlike the long eais of 

 S. hirtipes, pale grey throughout. Upper surface of hands and 

 feet white. Palms and soles intermediate in their characters 

 between those of the hairy-footed S. hirtipes and of the ordinaiy 

 naked-footed species ; the palms apparently with low granulated 

 cushions, but these cannot be accurately described on dried speci- 

 mens, even when re-damped ; the soles with a compound cushion 

 at the end of the metatarsus, as in S. hirtipes, but this is naked 

 and granulated as in other species, and has three minute non- 

 lineated pads upon it ; the centre of the foot is finely hairy to 

 beyond the tip of the hallux, a few hairs even extending to the back 

 of the large compound pad. Tail shorter than in S. larapinta, 

 incrassated at base ; finely hairy, greyish white above and below, 

 the tip not darkened. 



Skull and teeth very much as in S. larapinta, the muzzle rather 

 shorter ; bullee much smaller than in *S'. hirtipes. 



Dimensions of the type, measured in the flesh : — 



Head and body 70 mm. ; tail 65 ; hind foot 15 ; ear 17. 



Skull — greatest length 23'2 ; basal length 21*4; zygomatic 

 breadth 13 ; nasals 8; combined length of three anterior molari- 

 form teeth 4" 7. 



The other specimen has head and body 72 mm. ; tail 70. 



Type. Subadult male. B.M. No. 6.3.9.91. Original number 

 175. Collected 1 August, 1905. 



This pretty species forms an interesting link between the 

 hairy- soled S. hirtipes Thos., described from Charlotte Waters, 

 and the ordinary naked-soled species of the genus. Its shorter 

 tail and more buffy colour will also distinguish it from S. lara- 

 pinta. 



Prof. Spencer's S. psammophilus would appear to have a similar 

 foot-sti'ucture, but is considerably larger. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXVII. 



Fig. 1. Musforresti, p. 538. 



2. JPhascogale ingrami, p. 541. 



Froc. Zool. Soc— 1906, No. XXXYII. 37 



