DASYURID.E. 7 



development of the clavicle, which is connected by a ligament to 

 the sternal apparatus, along with the rudimentary character of the 

 epipubic bones, being also monotreinatous ; this latter character, 

 however, it shares with the Dasyurine Thylacinus. Referring 

 back to the clavicular development the fact must not be lost sight 

 of that this bone is reduced to a mere knob-like process in the 

 Dasyures and is entirely absent in the Bandicoots, while in the 

 Monotremes it connects by true ossification with the sternum. It 

 may be sought to explain away this difference in the strength of 

 the shoulder-girdle on the grounds that Notoryctes, Echidna, and 

 Ornithorhynchus have the fore-limbs strengthened, in order to 

 enable them to burrow with the greater ease, but the superficiality 

 of such a view is demonstrable at a glance if we take into con- 

 sideration the fact that the Peramelidce, which are also of fossorial 

 habits, though not in so marked a degree as the genera mentioned 

 above, are absolutely without rudiments of these bones. The 

 method of reproduction in Notoryctes is undeniably one of the 

 most interesting problems of the day in the world of science, and 

 when solved will at once set at rest the question of its affinities. 



It seems probable that, though so essentially a burrowing 

 animal, Notoryctes does not live in a burrow, but makes a nest in 

 tussocks of grass, or at the roots of small shrubs, burrowing, like 

 the Peramelidce, for food only. Its method of progression is some- 

 what analogous to that of a Dolphin as, according to Dr. Stirling's 

 informants, it travels for varying distances at very few inches 

 beneath the surface, then emerging crawls along the surface for a 

 few feet, and again dives below ; this seems to be necessary to the 

 act of respiration. As fast as it bores by means of the fore feet 

 and horny snout it closes up the burrow behind it with its hind 

 feet. 



Finally, should the theory above advanced prove correct, we 

 have now obtained a definite link between the proto- and meta- 

 therian Sub-classes a link which is somewhat analogous in 

 position to that held by Branchiostoma between the vertebrate 

 and invertebrate animals and which will perhaps eventually 

 bridge over the gulf which at present separates the Monotremes 

 from the Marsupials. It is, however, probable that it is to 

 embryological and palteontological research alone that we must 

 look for the elucidation of the problem briefly hinted at above. 



In a work of this kind it is impossible to go more fully into 

 the subject of this interesting animal. 



Family II. DASYURDXE. 



Thylacine ; Native Cats ; Pouched Mice, &c. 



Limbs subequal. Fore feet with five digits ; hind feet asyn- 

 dactylous, with four or five toes ; hallux small and clawless, or 



