136 PHALiNGERID^i 



2. ACROBATES. Type. 



Acrobates, Desm. N. Diet. ^S. N. (2) xxv. p. 405 



(1817) A. pygmseus. 



Cercoptenus, Qhger, Handb. Naturg. p. 85 (1842) .... A. pygmseus. 



Size very small. Ears (PL XV. fig. 4) medium, thinly hairy, 

 but with small tufts of hairs placed round their bases, and on the 

 prominences inside them. Flanks with a flying-membrane, but a 

 very narrow one so far as the membrane, apart from its fringing 

 hairs, is considered ; only running from the elbow to the flank, and 

 from the flank to the knee, being scarcely developed at all in the 

 centre. Mammae 4. Toes of normal proportions, but each, both 

 before and behind, provided with a much broadened striated 

 terminal pad ; length of fore toes in the following order — 4, 3, 5, 

 2, 1. Claws sharp and well developed, although but little pro- 

 minent compared to the enormous toe-pads. Tail markedly 

 distichous, short-haired above and below, but with a broad fringe of 

 hairs alopg each side. 



Shull short, especially in the facial region, broad, and flattened. 

 Squamosal part of zygomata not inflated, or forming sinuses. 

 Anterior palatine foramina situated nearly wholly in the maxillaTy 

 bones, extending backwards to the level of p.' Palate very 

 imperfect posteriorly. Base of brain-case in front of bullse slightly 

 inflated downwards, but far less than in Tarsipes. Bullss low, 

 broadly rounded, little prominent. Lower jaw with a distinct 

 foramen at the lower edge of the masseteric fossa. 



Dentition :-I. \^^, C. 1, P. J-^^, M. i^=16-|-gx2=36. 



Teeth (PI. XVI. fig. 1) sharp and obviously more or less insecti- 

 vorous in character. Upper canine long and strong, close to i.' 

 Upper premolars all large or functional, projecting beyond the 

 level of the molars. Molars small and rounded, with smooth 

 unridged cusps. M.* absent. Anterior lower incisors long and 

 slightly curved., I.'^ and p.' minute, unicuspid, both present in aU 

 the specimens examined. P.' and p.* both long and pointed, about 

 equal to one another and to the anterior pointed cusp of m.' 



Mange. That of the only species. 



1. Acrobates pygmaeus. 



Didelphis pygmssa, Shaw, Zool. New Holland, i. p. 5, pi. ii. (animal) 



(1794) ; id. Gen. Zool. i. pt. ii. p. 501, pi. cxiv. (animal) (1800) : 



Turt. Linn. 8. N. i. p. 69 (1806). 

 Voluccella pygmsea, Bechst. Uebers. Vierf. Thiere, ii. -pp. 352. 686 



(1800). 

 Phalangiata pygmsea, E. Oeoff. Cat. Mus. p. 161 (1803) ; O. Cuv 



M. A. i. p. 179 (1817) ; GoUf. Zool. ii. p. 451 (1820) ; Schinz, 



Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 269 (1821) : F. Cuv, Diet. Sci. Nat. xxxix 



p. 416 (1826). 

 Acrbbatesj pygmseus, Desm. N. Diet. d'H. N. (2) xiv. p. 405 (1817) ; 



id. Mamm. i. p. 270 (1820) ; Gray, "King's Swv. Amtr., App. ii! 



