Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 1.djvu/207

 Gray.

White-bellied Antechinus.

Phascogale leucogaster, Gray, App. to Grey's Journ., vol. ii. p. 407.

Antechinus leucogaster, Gray, List of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 99.

Phascogale (Antechinus) leucogaster, Waterh. Nat. Hist of Mamm., p. 417.

" animal so closely resembles the Antechinus flavipes in all its proportions, as well as in the structure of its skull and teeth, that it is with considerable hesitation I describe it as a distinct species. I have seen, however, several specimens from Western Australia which agree perfectly with the individual from which Mr. Gray drew up his original description, and which differ from the A. flavipes in having the under parts of the body white, and little or no rusty yellow on the sides of the body and on the feet. The general tint of the upper surface likewise differs somewhat, being less grey on the fore parts of the body, and on the hinder parts rich brown. The feet are brownish white, not unfrequently suffused with brown behind; the tail is brown above, pale brown beneath, and dusky towards the point.

"A skull removed from a specimen sent me from King George's Sound by Mr. Neill, differs from a skull of A. flavipes in the British Museum collection in having the muzzle (and consequently the nasal bones) a trifle shorter, but the difference is not more than is often found in individuals of the same species, and I think it by no means improbable that the A. leucogaster is a local variety of A. flavipes."

The above are Mr. Waterhouse's opinions respecting a Western Australian animal, of which my collection contains two or three examples obtained at King George's Sound. I figure it with the same degree of doubt as to its specific value that is entertained by Mr. Waterhouse, but I may state that I have seen hundreds of A. flavipes from Southern and Eastern Australia, all of which had the feet and under surface of a deep rusty colour, a hue I have never yet seen in any of the specimens of the Western Australian Antechini.

Fur rather soft, general colour dark brownish grey; the hind quarters tinted with rusty brown; all the upper surface beset with numerous fine black hairs; ears sparingly clothed with minute pale-coloured hairs; under surface greyish white; tail dusky, passing into blackish at the apex; feet light brown.

The figures are of the natural size.