54 BONE BRECCIA DEPOSIT, 



Wales. From the existing species being believed to be confined 

 to New Guinea, Tasmania, and West Australia, Thomas regards 

 it as practically certain that Dromicia existed in former times in 

 Eastern Australia. The correctness of this conclusion is now 

 established. The fossil form so far as known does not differ from 

 the existing D. iiana. 



As regards the present distribution of this species Thomas con- 

 siders it to be exclusively contined to Tasmania. In this, however, 

 it is probable that he is in error. For though the species must be 

 excessively rare in New South Wales it most probably still 

 survives, as it is quite certain that it existed within ver}' recent 

 years. In the Grand Arch at the Wombeyan Caves there are 

 near the entrance numerous ledges of rock frequented by Rock 

 Wallabies, and on which the animals leave quantities of their 

 excrement. Mingled with the dry and decomposing dung are to 

 be found quantities of small bones — chiefly those of Pliascologale 

 flavipes, Fetaurus breviceps, and of the Bush Rat (Mus sp.), but 

 with also a few of PaendocJiiruspf.regrinus, Feraiueles obesula, and 

 of small birds and snakes. While searching among these I dis- 

 covered, to my surprise, two jaws of Dromicia nana in tolerably 

 good preservation. It is hard to say what may be the age of the 

 bones, but as the ledge is quite exposed to atmospheric influences 

 and as the bones show little sign of weathering, it cannot well be 

 more than a very limited number of years since the animals 

 died. Considering the wild region in which the caves are situated 

 it is very probable that the species still survives in the district, 

 though I have sought it in vain. On mentioning my discovery to 

 Mr. J. J. Fletcher, he kindly called my attention to Krefft's dis- 

 covery of Dromicia uidcolor [= D. iiniia'\ at North Shore, Sydne}', 

 in 1863, and to the fact that Thomas regards the specimens as 

 almost certainl)^ Tasmanian specimens which had escaped from 

 captivity. Such an explanation will not do for the recent bones 

 found at the Wombeyan Caves, nor is such a theory now required 

 for even Krefft's specimens, considering that in former times 

 Dromicia nana was one of the commonest of New South Wales 

 marsupials. 



