Royal Institution. 197 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL INSTITUTION. 



Feb. 6, 1846. — Prof. Owen " On the Geographical Distribution of 

 Extinct Mammalia." 



The Professor announced his purpose to develope the law or prin- 

 cij)le on which mammals are, and have been, distributed over the 

 surface of this planet. [A mammal was described as being charac- 

 terized by a hairy skin, quick respiration, and, therefore, a tempera- 

 ture usually higher than that of the surrounding atmosphere, and by 

 bringing forth living young.] He stated that recent researches had 

 led him to defined views on the following subjects : — 1. Comparative 

 development as between mammals of the Old and New World. 2. Pe- 

 culiarities of mammalian distribution in Australia and the neighbouring 

 islands. 3. Probable fnal causes of several instances of this develop- 

 ment. 4. Inquiry whether the extinct species of mammals were loca- 

 lized like the present races. 



Thus, — 1. On the comparative mammalian development in the New 

 and Old World of geographers. The Professor stated, that in the 

 Old World mammals reached their highest type. Among other illus- 

 trations of this truth, he contrasted the lion and royal tiger of Asia 

 and Africa with the puma and jaguar of America ; the large and use- 

 ful camel with the feeble vicugna. The most remarkable of the 

 herbivorous and pachydermatous animals, as the giraffe and the an- 

 telope in the former class, and the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopota- 

 mus, babroussa, horse, djiggitas, zebra in the latter, are peculiar to 

 the Old World. With respect to the rodent animals, water-rats, 

 hares, rabbits, tailless hares, are only found in the Old World. The 

 beaver is, indeed, represented by an American species, but this is 

 distinct from the beaver of the Danube. The monkeys of the Old 

 World are equally distinguishable from those of the New. In the 

 latter we find the prehensile tail, the wide and approximated nostrils, 

 and the absence of an opposable thumb on the hand. 



Prof. Owen proceeded, 2ndly, to notice the peculiarities of mamma- 

 lian distribution in Australia and the neighbouring islands. — In this 

 tract of the globe all the animals are distinguished by two remark- 

 able peculiarities, one positive and the other negative : (a) all are 

 organized to carry about their young, from a very early period of 

 embryonic life, in a portable pouch ; and {b) none have attained a 

 high degree of development. The largest marsupial carnivora are 

 the Thylacinus and Dasyurus, which are respectively of the size of 

 the dog and the wild cat. 



3. Probable final causes of several instances of this development 

 were then adverted to. Thus, the marsupial inhabits a country liable 

 to long- continued drought, and where the indigenous animals are 

 consequently compelled to make long journeys in search of water ; 

 were it not for the arrangement enabling the marsupial to carry its 

 young with ease from one place to another, the races would probably 

 become soon extinct. The prehensile tail of the American marsu- 

 pial, as well as of the porcupine, kinkajous, ant-eaters, and monkeys 

 of the New World, have reference to their arboreal life in the huge 



