24 STIIUKS IN TASMAMAN MAMMALS, LIVINC AM> lATlNCT. 



chestes — is an cpen channel in the Wombat, and a solid plat- 

 form in the Nototheria, which pushed the turbinals relatively 

 farther back, the total result beinu; as follows: — 



1. In being straiphter, and more cuneiform in shape, the 

 maxillo turbinals of the Nototheria approach those 

 of the Kangaroos, and depart from those of the 

 Wombats. 



2. By reason of their more extensive vortical plates, 

 they appi'oach the Wombats, and depart from those 

 of the Kangaroos. 



3. By being preceded by a bony platform, the Notother- 



ian turbinals manifest characters of their own, al- 

 though such states are dimly suggested in the skulls 

 of Native Bears. 



A suggestion thrown out in the Monograph upon Noto- 

 therium tasmanicinn (p. 46) as to the existence of nasal 

 diverticula in the Nototheria, has been recalled by Doctor 

 William K. Gregory's studies upon the American Titano- 

 theres, and his recent examination of their Australian marsu- 

 pial analrgues, the Nototheria. Doctor Gregory concludes 

 that nasal diverticula did exist in both groups of animals. 

 Again, the very perfect skull of Notothrrimn mitchclli, now 

 available to stadsnts of palaeontology, makes it possible to see 

 how the hinged nasal cartilage and enormous zygomaticus 

 muscles (that strained up the angles of the lips with inordin- 

 ate power) rendered a relatively small effort upon the part 

 of the levator labii superioris muscles effective in pulling up 

 the heavy trunk-like lip. 



The attachment s'.nd action of the muscles just named 

 were clearly demonstrated in the Indian Rhinoceros as early 

 as the year 1851 by Sir Richard Owen, and there can be no 

 doubt that he carried this idea in the foreground of his 

 mental vision when he came to study the Nototheria, but 

 being diverted from hi.s first thought by a tjo dose association 

 of the toeth of Diprutodons with those of Diuotherinm, he 

 dispatched the Rhintceros aspect of the Nototheria, and their 

 allies, with a minor reference. 



Owen's actual sketch of the myology of the Rhinoceros is 

 before us, and the more we study his work upon the Rhin- 

 ocercs. and the Nototheria, the more we are convinced he 

 strongly leaned to a belief respecting the Rhinoceros-like 

 habits of Notnthrriuni mitchelli — hut awaited in vain the 

 coming of a perfect skull to prove his case. 



