88 STUDIES IN TASMANIAN MAMMALS, LIVING AND EXTINCT, 



by Do Vis to Sthenomerus most, likely belong to Noto- 

 therium, and a re-examination of them in the light of 

 later discoveries would, we fancy, establish some such fact. 

 It appears to us that the interests of science will be better 

 served by founding two well-marked groups, than by ex- 

 haustively contending the claims of the various species, 

 and in this connection we present the following:- — 



CLASSIFICATION OF NOTOTHERIA. 



Group One. 



Megacerathine Group. 



Group Two. 

 Leptocerathine Group. 



CONSPECTUS OF MEG AC Eli AT HI, YE NOTO- 

 THERIA. 



Animals of platyrhine cranial morphology, with flat 

 foreheads and parietal platforms. Nasals not quite cov- 

 ering the nasal aperture; if anything, more so in the 

 female than in the male. Zygomatic arches asymmetri- 

 cal, the difference being well marked ! Sub-orbital bar 

 heavy, and slightly grooved at the malar suture'. Tooth- 

 line showing fairly even wear throughout. Teeth with 

 well-marked cingula. Cervicals with strongly developed 

 zygapophyses, and a powerful axian spine. Cbronoid pro- 

 cess of the mandible twisted from the tooth-line, as in 

 the latifrons Wombat's jaws ( 9 ). Skull heavy, short 



nosed, and horned. A second very small horn may have 

 rested on the frontal cavity. Nasal cartilage attached by 

 bony studs, capable of motion, to resist shock when 

 horning a foe, and also to give extra mobility to the 

 lips. (Example : Nototherium mitchelli.) 



CONSPECTUS OF LEPTOCERATHINE NOTO- 

 THERIA. 



Animals of leptorhine cranial morphology, with tri- 

 angular foreheads and parietal crests. Nasals curved over 

 nasal aperture. Zygomatic arches symmetrical, rounded, 

 and deeply grooved. Tooth-line showing uneven wear, the 

 excess always being anterior. Teeth without cingula, of 

 a heavy type. Cervicals with a, slender axian spine. 

 Coronoid process not much, or not at all, twisted from 

 the toothline ( 10 ). Skull heavy (less heavy than the other 



(9) 35 degrees from the line of symphysis. 



(10) 15 degrees from line of symphysis, in Phascolonus tasmaniends. 



