BY C. W. DE VIS. 119 



<lestroy any diagnostic features which may have existed in earher 

 life. It is worse than idle to confer on such a fossil names which 

 cannot with certainty be extended to others. 



Halmaturus sp. 



A portion of a right mandibular ramus of an aged individual 

 with the last three and major part of the first true molars. The 

 estimated length of the molar series is 34-5; the last three teeth 

 measure 27'1. The width of the series at m.-^ is 7-1. The mid 

 depth of the mandible is 18-5; its thickness 10-9. 



The width of the teeth falls within the range of that in H . 

 aiiilis, ualabafnii and rujicollis. The depth of the mandible would 

 allow it to be referred either to agilis or rujicollis; its thickness 

 to either of the large wallabies or to M. parry i. But the species 

 is readily distinguished from H. ualabatus, to which, among 

 modern kinds, it has the greatest resemblance by the greater 

 length and width of the anterior talon, which forms a much 

 larger portion of the whole than in the recent tooth. In conse- 

 (juence of this amplification of the talon the tooth is elongated; 

 selecting a mandible of H. ualabatus of the same age as the fossil, 

 and with teeth of the same width, we find that the length of the 

 series of true molars in the fossil is a tenth greater than in the 

 living species, the talons being on the average a millimetre longer. 



Until the premolar is known the species may be left unnamed. 



Halmaturus sp. 



Molars with rather straight crests, subrotund angles, and 

 moderately strong links; without posterior groove or talon; 

 smooth. 



Dimensions. 



Ma'iidibular. — The last three clieek-teeth measure 25-1 in 

 length. The width of m."^ is 5-9. Posterior depth 14*8; thick- 

 ness ll'O. 



So far as it goes the fossil corresponds in size with H. dorsalis, 

 and it is without any distinct marks of difierentiation from that 

 species; but as it is equally without characters, apart from 



