INTRODUCTION. » 



pcrmit.j an enumeration of Australian mammals, the extent of 

 their range, &c. In doing this, I shall commence with the 

 Monotrcmatous section of the Marsupiata, which includes the 

 Oniithorhijnchus and two species of Echidna ; I shall then pro- 

 ceed to the genera Myrmccohius, Tarsiiies, Chcpropus, Peragnlea, 

 Pcrameles, Phascolarctos, Phalamjista, Cuscus, Petaurista, Beli- 

 deus, Phascogale, Sarcophilus, Dasyurus, Thylacinus, and Phas- 

 colomys; and these will be followed by the great family of 

 Kangaroos, with remarks upon their structural difTerences and 

 the especial object for which these ajjpear to have been designed ; 

 next we shall come to the feebly represented Placentals, the Seals, 

 and Rodents; and, lastly, to the species of Ptero2)US and other 

 Bats. 



I have considered that, in a large illustrated work like the 

 ' Mammals of Australia,' it would be out of place to enter into 

 the anatomy of the objects I have represented. I have therefore 

 omitted all details of this kind ; neither have I included therein 

 a repetition of the generic characters and Latin descriptions 

 wdiich have appeared in general works on Mammalogy, where 

 they may be easily referred to. Those who wish to enter 

 more fully into the generic characters of the Australian mam- 

 mals will lind all the information they can wish for in Mr. 

 Watcrhouse's valuable work, entitled ' A Natural History of the 

 Mammalia,' a publication of such gi'tat promise and merit, that 

 it becomes a matter of surprise and regret to all interested in 

 this branch of science that the publisher decided upon not con- 

 tinuing it to its completion. 



It will be observed that I have entirely omitted the Whales, 

 Porpesses, and Dugong, my reason for so doing being that I 

 had not sufficient opportunities for studying those animals 

 in a state of nature, and have not therefore attempted that 

 which I did not understand, and consequently could not have 

 accomplished in a satisfactory manner. With regard to the Du- 

 gong, I must not omit thanking my relative, Charles Coxen, 

 Esq., of Queensland, for his attention in sending me a skin and 



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