58 macropodidjB. 



Dimensions. 



Mainland. Island. 



d. ?. 6- ?■ 



c (stuffed). (Z (atujffed). « (stuffed), o (stuffed), 

 millim. millim. millim. millim. 



Head and body .... 610 560 700 540 



Tail ....420 380 420- (c.)330 



Hind foot 144 129 136 124 



Ear 63 60 44 48 



Skull, see p. 63. 



Hab. Mainland of Western Australia, and islands off the coasts of 

 both West and South Australia. 



Type not traceable. 



The proper treatment of the numerous small Wallabies which have 

 been described under the names of eugenii, derbianus, dama, hout- 

 Trianni, gracilis, and parma has given rise to much doubt. Water- 

 house Considered M. derbianus to be distinct from M. eugenii, with 

 which he united Gould's M. dama and gracilis, and he also founded 

 the eastern species M. parma. Gould, on the other hand, seems to 

 have had a very fair idea of the real state of affairs, as he believed 

 that there were three species, viz. : the mainland " H. dama," the 

 insular " H. Jioutmanni," and the New South Wales one, although 

 he confused the names which should properly belong to each. After 

 much thought, and the examination of a very large series <Jf speci- 

 mens, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to admit 

 more than a single western species, notwithstanding the very 

 striking differences that exist between the individuals long isolated 

 in the islands of Houtmann's Abrolhos and those living on the 

 . mainland- The differences fade away on the examination of large 

 series, and specimens from the smaU islets close to the coast are as 

 a rule more or less intermediate. The type of M. eugenii has un- 

 fortunately disappeared, but there can be little doubt as to the 

 identity of the present species with that obtained by Pdron and 

 Lesueur on Eugene Island, especially as specimen a comes from a 

 locality so close to that place. 



With regard to the New South Wales species M. parma, it seems 

 to differ sufficiently in its cranial and external characters for its 

 provisional retention as a species, although should specimens be ob- 

 tained from intermediate localities, so as to reduce the very wide 

 geographical gap that now appears to exist, it is probable that they 

 will be so intermediate in their characteristics as to necessitate its 

 union also with M. eugenii. Until such specimens are found, how- 

 ever, I retain the species as distinct. 



j Ad. sk. 1. o Kangaroo I., Spencer 



"■ Skull, f ¥• Gulf, S. A. 



Gould OoU. 



Ad. sk. I , "8. Coast Australia." Gould Coll. 



6. I a^„',^^ ' i d 



I Skull. 



i Ad. 8t. I , Wongan Hills, W. A. Gould Coll. 



] Skull. ( "^ • (/. Gilbert). 



