422 
PHASCOGALE ALBli'ES. 
white, slender, and with the naked portions entirely covered 
with minute tubercles. Ears large. 
Inhabits South Australia (Western Australia and Van Diemen’s 
Land ?) 
The White-footed Phascogale was discovered by the late 
J. B. Harvey, Esq., a very zealous corresponding Member of 
the Zoological Society, who for many years exerted himself 
in collecting specimens to enrich that Society’s Museum*. 
In size and colouring this little animal greatly resembles the 
Field Mouse (Mu 8 sylvuticus of authors) : its form is less 
robust than that of any of the Phascogales already described ; 
its feet are more slender, and a greater portion of the palm 
of the liind foot is clothed with fur. In neither of the pre¬ 
ceding species does the hair on the under side of the foot 
extend beyond the heel ; terminating in front at the proximal 
extremity of the metatarsal bones. In P. albipcs the hair 
encroaches on either side of the sole of the foot (and more 
especially on the outer side), so as to contract the naked 
portion—most so behind, and gradually less towards the fore 
part. In all the preceding sjiecies, the fleshy pads 2 on the 
under surface of the foot, at the base of the toes, are trans¬ 
versely or obliquely striated, whilst in the present, and other 
species about to be described, they are covered with small 
tubercles, as well as the other naked parts of the foot: on 
die toes the tubercles are arranged in two longitudinal rows. 
1 Mr. Harvey is also the author of some com mu Mirations printed in the 
Zoological Society’s publications. 
ith regard to the pads in question, it will be found that usually in qua¬ 
drupeds which have five toes to their feet, there are three of these pads, or 
fleshy tubercles, situated near the base of the four outer toes, and a fourth 
placed near the root of the inner toe : they are evidently destined to protect 
the under surface of the toes from pressure, which, by hardening the skin, 
would impede the motions of those members. Other pads there arc on the 
under side of the foot which serve to protect the blood-vessels. These Utter 
might be called carpal or tarsal pads , and the former, digital pads. 
