250 PEEAMEUDiB. 



3. CHCEEOPUS. „ 



Type. 



Choeropus, Ogilb. P. Z. S. 1838, p. 26 Ch. castanotis. 



Form light and slender. Muzzle short but narrow. Jf ose sharp 

 and pointed, the naked rhinarium confined to the extreme tip. 

 Ears very long; metatragus duplicated as in Perameles, the projec- 

 tion on the upper ridge short but broad. Pouch opening backwards ; 

 mammae 8. Fore limbs long and slender. Fore feet with the first 

 and fifth digits entirely suppressed, the fourth minute, rudimentary, 

 and only reaching to the middle of the metacarpus of the third, and 

 the second and third toes alone fuUy developed. Hind limbs long 

 and thin; hallux entirely absent, fifth toe short and rudimentary, 

 the whole bulk of the foot made up of the large fourth toe. Soles 

 hairy, a small naked projection at the base of the fourth toe. Tail 

 present, cylindrical, slightly crested along its upper surface. 



Sh^dl broad and flattened, with a short naiyow muzzle. Nasals 

 of medium length, not markedly expanded behind. Interorbital 

 region flat and square-edged ; lacrymal bones much expanded and 

 ridged postero-externally. Anterior, orbital part of zygomata 

 broadened and twisted outwards, so as to form broad horizontal 

 ledges beneath the orbits. Palate very imperfect, with two pairs 

 of large irregular vacuities. BuUse small, rounded, hemispherical, 

 completely ossified. 



D^tition :-I. i444-«_, C. {, P. J4^,, M. 1^^^ x 2=48. 



Upper incisor series forming a widely open even curve ; incisors 

 flattened, pointed, closely touching one another. Canine small, 

 sometimes double-rooted. Premolars increasing in size back- 

 wards. Molars large, heavy, quadrangular, multicuspid,- standing 

 slightly apart from one another. Lower teeth much as in Perameles, 

 but the molars broader and squarer. 



Milk-p.* present, functional. 



Habits. Terrestrial; omnivorous. 



Range. Australia. ' 



This genus, both in its general external appearance and in- its 

 cranial characters, is very markedly led up to by the members of 

 the last, or P. gvm.ni, section of the genus Perameles, P. bougain- 

 villei especially showing many points of resemblance to it. Its 

 distinction as a genus, however, is unquestionable, even were, it not 

 for the unique and peculiar structure of its fore feet, which have 

 such a striHng resemblance to those of the pig as to have gained 

 for the only species its common English name of Pig-footed Bandi- 

 coot. 



1. Choeropns castanotis. 



Choeropus ecaudatus ', Ogilb. P. Z. S. 1838, p. 26 ; Mitch. Exped. 

 Austr. ii. p. 131, pi. xxxviii. (animal) (1838) ; Gray, Ch-ey's Aitstr,, 



* This name, founded upon an accidentally mutilated specimen, has been 

 generally and properly discarded as inappropriate for an animal with ■■ well- 

 developed tail. 



