PINNIPEDIA. 125 



although still living in great numbers, I have no doubt dates 

 from the Pliocene Tertiary time, and I find, on the most minute 

 comparison and measurements, no difference between the fossil 

 and recent individuals, either of the adult age, or of the younger 

 periods before the milk-teeth were shed to give place to the 

 permanent molar teeth." 



These remarks from so high an authority on Australian 

 Zoology, having the concurrence of Prof. Mivart, cannot be 

 ignored, and, until proof to the contrary is forthcoming, we shall 

 consider the honor of being the original progenitor of our house- 

 hold favorite as the due of the Australian Warrigal. 



Furthermore, Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., has kindly supplied the 

 following note, extracted from Smyth's Aboriginals of Victoria, 

 i. p. 149, 1878 : " In a well section at Tower Hill, Western Vic- 

 toria, sixty -three feet of volcanic ash was passed through, and 

 then sixty feet of blue and yellow clay; here were found the skull 

 and bones of the Dingo." Again : "At Lake Timboon, Western 

 Victoria, bones of the Dingo were found associated with those of 

 the Tasmanian Devil ( /Sarcophilus ursinus), those of Macropus 

 titan, and bones and teeth of Diprotodon." 



Suborder II. Pinnipedia. 



Seals ; Walruses. 



External form fitted for an aquatic life ; limbs modified into 

 swimming organs ; digits of the hand decreasing in length from 

 the first to the fifth : of the foot first and fifth largest and longest, 



' O O ? 



the three middle ones subequal in length. Dentition simple, 

 generally unspecialized, the molar series similar to each other in 

 size and form. 



Habits. More or less purely aquatic ; carnivorous, feeding on 

 fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans, to all of which they are very 

 destructive owing to their exceptional voracity. The develop- 

 ment of the brain is very great, and they are, therefore, easily 

 domesticated, becoming much attached to their keepers and 

 readily learning various tricks ; they are also affectionate parents, 

 and courageously defend their progeny from threatened attack. 

 A curious habit, common to all Pinnipeds, and the reason of 

 which is still a matter for conjecture, is that of swallowing 

 numerous stones up to the size of a hen's egg. 



Distribution, Seas of the circumpolar and temperate regions 

 of the Globe chiefly, only one genus (Monachus) being strictly 

 tropical, while but few species, one of which is the Australian 

 Zalophus lobatus, range into tropical waters. 



