Page:Mammals of Australia (Gould), introduction.djvu/63

 140. Hydromys Lutrilla, MacLeay.

I have never seen an example of the animal thus named by Mr. MacLeay, and of which two coloured sketches, one by Mr. G. French Angas, and the other by Mr. Gerard Krefft, were kindly sent to me by the latter gentleman; and without an inspection and comparison of it with the other species of Hydromys, it is quite impossible for me to say if it be really a species or not.

The following notes, by Mr. Krefft, accompanied the sketches:—

"The Hydromys Lutrilla was discovered by W. S. MacLeay, Esq., on the edge of the water in front of his beautiful seat, Elizabeth Bay. It is the only specimen yet seen, and Mr. MacLeay has presented it to the Australian Museum.

"Fur remarkably soft, and of a vinous or brownish grey next the skin, covered with dark brown and some sandy-coloured hairs on the flanks, and buffy hairs on the sides of the neck; throat and abdomen white; fore legs somewhat paler than the other parts of the body, with the exception of a brown patch on the upper surface of the feet; toes clothed with light-brown hairs; nails white; tarsi sepia-brown; whiskers black and white intermixed, the upper and longer hairs being the dark-coloured ones; tail about 7 inches long, five of which are covered with dark brown coarse hair without any white at the tip.

Habitat. New South Wales.

Family CHEIROPTERA.

Genus, Briss.

141. Pteropus poliocephalus, Temm.

Habitat. Brushes of New South Wales.