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Show 316 MR. G. KREFFT ON AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. [Mar. 28, Prof. Schlegel had united the two latter species together, which would hardly have done if he had seen the living birds. The following papers were read : - 1. Notes on the Mammals and Birds of Cape York, with Description of Two N e w Rodents of the Genus Hapalotis. By G E R A R D K R E F F T , F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. Some months ago I purchased for the Australian Museum a few Mammals and Birds collected at Cape York, among which were several specimens of a very large Hapalotis, for which I propose the name of HAPALOTIS CAUDIMACULATA*. Fur harsh and coarse, reddish brown upon the back, and grey on the sides, beneath white. The hair appears stiff and shiny, and consists of some which is grey at the base, white or yellowish white on the upper part, generally tipped with brown, and of much longer and stiffer brown hairs, the tips of which are almost black. Thin silvery hairs cover the feet; and an elongate patch of a darker hue commences at the elbow, runs tapering along the outside of the arm, and stops at the base of the third toe. A similar band is indicated on the hind feet, extending from a little above the heel to the base of the third toe; the marks are caused by the white hair being tipped with brown. The nails are large, very broad at the base, and not very sharp, the animal frequenting rocks more than trees. The first toe is very short, and has a broad blunt round nail. There is a black elongate mark above and below the eye, and on each corner the skin appears destitute of a hairy covering. The whiskers are black, strong, and very long, reaching far beyond the ear, which is of moderate size, flesh-colour, and covered with short hair. The tail is quite nude, and the scales on it, which are large and coarse, do not overlap each other. Various individuals differ in the coloration of the caudal appendage; but in all of them is the apical portion white, but sometimes more or less spotted with black, and the basal part black, and occasionally spotted with white; though generally the tail is about half black and half white, yet there is one specimen in which the black colour covers only one-third of the whole. The measurements of one of the dry skins are as follows :- inches. From tip of nose to base of tail 28 Tail i3i Face to base of ear 3 Ear 1 Fore leg to elbow 3 Tarsus and toes 91 -^2 * A subsequent communication from Mr. Krefft points out that tliis ruuy be the same as Dr. Gray's Mus macropus (P. Z. S. I860, p. 221).- P. L. S. |
