General Notes. [October, 



tralian genera. Twenty-two species of 

 in the list. Those described by our au- 

 thors are Phascogale dorsatis, P.p; rufescens, P. 

 arvensis, P. lo i ittis, P. Albert "isii, P. 

 pinnata, P. gym; is papuamts. 



It is remarked that the genus Phascogale evidently takes the 

 place in Papuasta of the insectivorous genus Tupaia of Malaysia. 

 There is no pouch in this genus, and the females of the two new 

 species differ in the number of their mammae, of which P. dor- 

 salis has four, P. pilicauda six. Six species of this genus are now 

 known to inhabit the region. 



Perameles rufescens is comparatively large, measuring 52 centi- 

 metres (1/-9") in total length. Five species of this genus are 

 known to be Papuasian. 



The genus Ph xlangista, as Miulerstood by our authors, includes 

 Dactylopsila, Pseudoc kirns, Distoechurus (Peters), and Cuscus. 

 Eight species are enumerated. P. Albcrtisii is a fine species, 

 about 14 inches long, excluding the prehensile tail, which exceeds 

 a foot in length; it is reddish-brown, shaded with black above, with 

 an indistinctly-bounded black band along the back. P. pennata is of 

 about the size of a dormouse, or smaller than a rat. In color this 

 pretty little creature is yellowish-brown with two black bands pass- 

 ing from the forehead through each eye to the muzzle. The tail is 

 naked above and below, but bears on its margins long hairs, 

 causing the whole to resemble a feather. An adult female had a 

 well developed pouch, containing a single young one ; the mam- 



P. gymnotis is remarkable for its naked ears and short fur, and 

 is less arboreal than its congeners. In size it exceeds P. Albertisii, 

 as it is about a yard in total length. It is stated that P. trivirgata 

 Gray, is found by Dr. Albertis to be entirely insectivorous instead 

 of frugivorous, as was asserted by Wallace. 



Only three examples of M -,i< /v s papuamts were taken, and un- 

 fortunately the skulls belonging to the two larger skins were lost, 

 but the length of the sole of the hind feet was 10 inches, and 

 D'Albertis asserts that it attains a stature but little inferior to 

 that of M. gigautats. Macropus Brum of Schlegel inhabits the 

 islands Aru and Kei, while Dorcopsis Mullen Schlegel, is found 

 with P. papuamts on the eastern coast of New Guinea. The re- 

 maining kangaroos of the region are Dorcopsis luctuesus (D Alber- 

 tis) and two species of the tree-inhabiting genus Dcndrolugus. 



The discovery of the monotreme, Tacky glossus Brut/nit, de- 

 scribed by Peters and Doria in 1876, is one of the most import- 

 ant in the field of geographical distribution, tint had been made 

 for several years. The French explorer, Leon Laglaize, has since 

 procured some examples at a height of about 3500 feet above the 

 sea-level, in the Karon mountains of New Guinea. The natives 

 call it " Nokdiak " and chase it with dogs that follow it into its 



