112 



forming a continued series, shelving forward, all lancet-shaped, sub- 

 equal ; the front rather the longest and narrowest ; the hinder rather 

 broader. 



Canines ^, conical ; the upper not quite developed, only slightly 

 produced above the level of the other teeth ; the lower small, conical 

 scarcely raised above the other teeth (figs. 3, 4). 



Grinders false, ^, conical, compressed ; the lower with a very 

 obscure, the upper with a rather more distinct, conical tubercle on 

 the front and hinder edge (figs. 3, 4). 



The true grinders |^ ; the upper large, triangular, acutely lobed ; 

 the lower compressed, very acutely lobed ; the middle one in each 

 jaw the largest. 



The angle of the lower is produced, elongate and strongly inflexed, 

 as is usual in Marsupialia. 



Skull : length, 1 inch 3 lines ; width, all the zygomatic arch, 9 lines; 

 length of the tooth-line 9 lines. Length of the lower jaw 11£, of 

 symphysis 4\, of tooth-line 7\ lines (figs. 1, 2, 3, 4). 



Fig. 4. 



This genus is peculiar, because, as far as the dentition is concerned, 

 there is no character by which we should have determined that it 

 was a Marsupial animal ; but the form of the angle of the lower 

 jaw at once shows its true affinity to that group. It was not until a 

 most careful examination of the space between the front upper cut- 

 ting teeth, that I could find any indication of the front pair of cut- 

 ting teeth found in the allied genus Antechinus. 



This genus is evidently allied to the genus Antechinus of Australia ; 

 but it is known at once by its external form, which is just that of a 

 small Indian Herpestes or Ichneumon, having like that genus a de- 

 pressed tail with long spreading hair, broad and depressed at the 

 base, tapering to an acute tip which bears a pencil of hairs. 



7. Myoictis Wallach (PI. LXIV.). 



Rusty-brown, with interspersed black longer hairs ; head redder ; 

 throat, chest and belly pale reddish ; side of the neck at the base of 



