2. PEE AMBLES. 



STcuU Dimensions of Peragale. 



227 



2. PERAMELES. „, 



Type. 



Perameles, Gevff'. Bull. Sac. Philom. iii. no. 80, p. 249 



(misprinted K9) (1803) P. naauta. 



Thylacis, III. Prodr. Syst. Mamm. p. 76 (1811) P. ohesula. 



Isoodon, Is. Qeof. Beam. N. Diet. d'S. JV. (2) xyi. 



p. 409 (1817) P. obesvda. 



Ecnymipera, Less. N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 192 



(1842) P. doreyana. 



Brachymelis, MiU.-Macl. P. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ix. 



p. 716 (1884) P. cockerelli. 



General build low, stout and clumsy. Muzzle long, pig-Hke, a 

 rudimentary nasal ossicle sometimes present. Naked rhinarium 

 passing down to the lip and backwards for some distance along the 

 top of the muzzle, but not sharply defined behind, sharply grooved 

 along its centre below. Ears very variable in size, but never so 

 long as to reach, when laid forward, beyond just in front of the eye ; 

 a small open pouch situated at the base of their inner margin, and 

 the lower fourth of their outer margin duplicated, so as to form a 

 second pouch-like hollow between the two portions. Metatragus 

 either large, oblong, and partially twisted, or small and triangular, 

 a second deep transverse fold also present below it, so as to form a 

 deep hollow between the two (see PI. XXI. fig. 5). Pouch well 

 developed, opening downwards and backwards. Mammae 6 or 8, 

 placed in two parallel rows. Fore feet with the three centre toes 

 long, subequal, and provided with strong curved fossorial claws; 

 first and fifth digits short and clawless, but always present. Hind 

 feet with five digits, the hallux short and clawless, the united second 



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