118 Zoological Society* 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIKTY. 



January 22, 1889.— The Her. F. W. Hope in the chair. 



At the request of the chairman, Mr. Grarnett exhibited a living 

 Jerboa (apparently the Dipus JElgyptiacus), which had been sent to 

 him from the Cape of Good Hope, but Mr. Garnett stated that he 

 Mas not aware whether it had been captured in that part of Africa. 



Professor Owen concluded his paper entitled, " Outlines of a 

 Classification of the Marsupialia." "The rich stores of the Mena- 

 gerie and Museum of the Zoological Society," observes Mr. Owen, 

 " having afforded me frequent opportunities of examining the ana- 

 tomy of various and rare species of the Marsupial order ; the endea- 

 vour to express in general propositions the more important facts 

 relative to their organization ; to state in which particulars so many 

 agreed or differed ; has naturally compelled me to acquire certain 

 ideas respecting their Zoological distribution." 



In the first part of the paper, Professor Owen defines the general 

 characters of the Marsupialia ; he then proceeds to consider their 

 mutual affinities ; and, as closely connected with this subject, com- 

 mences with some observations on their size, their geographical dis- 

 tribution, and their habits. 



The carnivorous Marsupial animals belonging to the genera Thyla- 

 cinus and Dasyurus are compared to the Carnivora in the placental 

 series; and the Bandicoots (Perameles), and Myrmecobians are re- 

 presented as typifying, or playing corresponding parts with those 

 allotted to the placental Insectivora. Those Marsupials which have 

 an omnivorous diet, live in trees, are provided with a prehensile 

 tail, and have a thumb on the hinder extremities, are said to typify 

 the Quadrumana, and the tailless Koala is compared to the arboreal 

 Sun-Bears of the Indian Archipelago. 



" Another genus of Marsupialia, the Wombat," says Mr. Owen, 

 " presents the dentition which characterizes the placental Rodentia; 

 and the Petaurists, like the Flying Squirrels, have a parachute 

 formed by broad duplications of the skin extending laterally be- 

 tween the fore and hind leers. 



" The Kangaroos are the true herbivorous Marsupialia, and many 

 interesting physiological conditions present themselves to the mind 

 in contemplating the singular construction and proportions of these 

 animals. It would appear that the peculiarities of their gestation 

 rendered indispensably necessary the possession of a certain prehen- 



