The largest species of this group are few in number, and only one of them, an inhabitant of Tasmania, is formidable, and may become dangerous to man. The smaller kinds represent the page 14 shrews and hedgehogs of the Placental series, and they do not exceed a rat in size; some are not larger than a common shrew-mouse. We divide the Dasyures in the following sections :—

Tasmanian "Tigers."

Thylacinus.

T. cynocephalus. Greyhound tiger.

T. breviceps. Bull-head tiger.

Both inhabiting Tasmania, the bull-head species having a more powerful dentition than the T. cynocephalus, and in particular the premolar teeth closer together; the palatial opening is also much smaller in the T. breviceps, and the head shorter.

Tasmanian "Devil."

Sarcophilus.

This section contains but one example, the Sarcophilus ursinus, a very ferocious but small animal, the habitat of which is restricted to Tasmania. This species should be classed with the Dasyures proper, on account of its dentition, which is the same as in the next group; premolars, 2-2/2-2; the Thylacine having 3-3/3-3 of these teeth.

Native-Cats.

Dasyurus.

D. maculatus. Eastern and Southern coast districts, Tasmania, and islands of Bass's Straits. The largest of the tribe, with spotted tail.

D. viverrinus. The common Native-cat has a wide distribution over the southern and eastern parts of Australia; it is also found in Tasmania.

D. Geoffroyi and D. hallucatus are varieties from Western Australia, the interior of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. These animals are furnished with a rudimentary nailless thumb to the hind foot.

Spiny-tails.

Chætocercus.

C. cristicauda.

A small animal of the size of a half-grown rat, with premolars 3-3/2-2, a rather thick tail, and a black hairy crest on the upper edge. Habitat, South Australia.

Tapoa-tafas, or Brush-tails.

Phascogale.

P. penicillata inhabits almost every part of Australia; it is a small animal the size of a rat, with black brushy tail, and of a uniform grey colour. The premolars number as in the genus Thylacinus.

P. calura is a smaller species, found in the interior of New South Wales, South and West Australia; both are arboreal.

Broad-footed "Pouched-Mice."

Antechinus.

A. Swainsoni. Tasmania,

A. apicalis. West and South Australia.

A. flavipes. Australia generally.

A. Stuarti. Sydney.

A. maculatus. Queensland.

A. miniutissimus. Queensland.

The first four are about the size of a half-grown rat. The last not larger than a small mouse; they frequent shrubs and trees, except A. Swainsonii, which is terrestrial in its habits.

Slender-footed "Pouched-Mice."

Podabrus.

P. macrourus. Queensland.

P. crassicaudatus. Interior of New South Wales.

P. albipes. Australia generally.

P. murinus. Australia generally.

P. fuliginosus. Australia generally.

P. feruginifrons. Australia generally.

P. apicalis. Australia generally.

Several other small slender-footed Marsupials have been described, but merely on account of a slight difference in coloration; nothing being said about their teeth. We consider the above five species varieties only. The slender-footed animals which have been arranged under the genus Podabrus are principally terrestrial in their habits. A larger kind, P. Mitchellii, from the interior of New South Wales, should be added to this list. The original is in the Australian Museum, but much mutilated; it was discovered by the late Surveyor-General of New South Wales, Sir Thomas L. Mitchell, K.C.B.

Jumping "Pouchcd-Mice."

Antechinomys.

The above genus was established for the reception of the little animal described as "Phascogale lanigera." The Phascogales are arboreal in their habits, and have short legs and broad feet, with a thumb behind. The A. lanigera has long slender legs, a line long tail with small brush at the tip, and no thumb; it moves by a succession of jumps, and is strictly terrestrial.

Brush-tailed Ant-eaters.

Myrmecobius.

M. fasciatus.

The Western Districts of New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia, are inhabited by this curious animal, which approaches the Monotremous section of the Marsupials. The teeth number 52, but they are small, and stand far apart. The long and slender tongue is used to capture ants and their eggs, upon which the animal principally preys.