SYNOPSIS OP THE 



givorus and Musculus Dichrurus of Rafinesque belong, pro- 

 bably, to this sub-genus. 



Hydromys. Geoff. Incisive teeth %; canine %% ; cheek- 

 teeth 11= 12 ; tops of the cheek-teeth flat , furnished with ena- 

 melled ridges, in the shape of the figure 8, with two excava- 

 tions corresponding with the spaces in that figure ; ears small 

 and round; pentadactylous, but the thumb of the forefeet 

 extremely small; hind-feet palmated ; tail as long as the 

 body, cylindrical, but pointed at the end, and covered with 

 thick hair. .\ \ 



571. 1. H. Leucogaster, (the White- bellied Hydromys.) 

 Brown above, white underneath ; rather more than a foot 

 in length. 



Hydromys Leucogaster, Geojf. Ann. Mus. vi. 

 Icon. Geoff. I. c. tab. 36. fig. B, C, D. Ency. Method. 

 Supp. t. 10. /. 3. - 



Inhabits Van Dieman's Land. 



572. 2. H. Chrysogaster (the Yellow-bellied Hydromys.) 

 Red-brown above, orange-yellow underneath. 



Hydromys Chrysogaster, Geoff. Ann. Mus. vi. 86. 



Icon. Geoff. I. c. pi. 36. 



Inhabits Van Dieman's Land. 



Obs. This and the former are the only true Hydromys ; 

 they are peculiar to Australasia. 



Whether the above two constitute more than varieties of 

 one species is doubtful. 



573. 3. H. Coypus (the Coypus or Racoonda.) Reddish- 

 brown on the back ; red on the flanks, and light-brown 

 on the belly; fur soft and downy, except on the tail- About 

 two feet long ; tail eighteen inches. 



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