62 report — 1842. 



the marsupial order were indicated only with a certain degree of probability, 

 and required further evidence before the desired demonstration could be at- 

 tained. But the determination of the particular order of mammals to which 

 the fossils in question belonged, was a matter of very inferior importance to 

 the discovery of the class of vertebrate animals in which it ought to rank. 

 In reference to this point the evidence afforded by the two jaws above de- 

 scribed, decisively proves, in my opinion, that they belong to a true, warm- 

 blooded, mammiferous species, referrible also to the higher or unguiculate 

 division of the class Mammalia, and to an insectivorous genus ; with a pro- 

 bability of the marsupial character of such genus. 



The probability entertained in 1838, and supported by the degree of re- 

 semblance between AmplritJierium and 3Iyrmecobius in the number and form 

 of the molar series of teeth, has since been diminished, if not destroyed, by 

 the discovery of the right ramus of a lower jaw, presenting its external sur- 

 face to the observer, and in which the angular pi'ocess is shown not to have 

 extended inwards. This jaw, now in the possession of Prof. Buckland, con- 

 tains the whole series of twelve molar teeth, the last six being quinque-cus- 

 pidate ; the six anterior ones uni-cuspidate, with one or two small basal ac- 

 cessory cusps ; one small canine and three small incisors ; altogether amount- 

 ing to sixteen teeth on each side of the lower jaw, as indicated by the sockets 

 of the second specimen above described. The convex condyle, the broad 

 and high coronoid process, the projecting angle, the varied kinds and double- 

 rooted implantation of the teeth, all unequivocally displayed in this fossil, 

 establish the conclusions which I had deduced from the foregoing fossils, of 

 the existence of a small insectivorous mammal during the oolitic epoch ; and 

 turn the scale in favour of the placental affinities of this ancient insectivore, 

 for which, therefore, I shall retain the generic name Amphitherium, in pre- 

 ference to the later one of Thylacothe?'ium, proposed by M. Valenciennes. 

 Other fossils, also portions of the lower jaw, establish the existence of small 

 Mammalia in the oolitic slate of Stonesfield ; but they present more decided 

 characters of the marsupial order, and will be, therefore, noticed after a sur- 

 vey of the fossils belonging to the larger placental Carnivora. 



UrSIDjE. 



In regard to the larger extinct carnivorous quadrupeds, the remains of 

 which are dispersed in the superficial drift or diluvial gravel, but are more 

 especially accumulated in caves, it has been proved, chiefly by the researches 

 of Dr. Buckland, that England differs very remarkably from the rest of 

 Europe in the small number of its ancient bears as compared with the 

 hyaenas; the proportionate numbers of Ursus spelceus and Hyarna spelcea 

 being reversed in the island and on the continent. How far this difference 

 may be taken as an indication of some geographical separation having ex- 

 isted at the remote period of these beasts of prey, analogous to that which 

 now divides us from the continent, may be worthy of closer inquiry ; but 

 the facts in regard to the Carnivora in question are indisputable. 



I shall first indicate the chief localities of Ursine remains in this country, 

 and then enter upon the question of their specific characters and relations. 



The tusk of a bear, equalling in size that of the Ursus spel&its, has been dis- 

 covered in the celebrated hyaena-cave at Kirkdale in Yorkshire. The soli- 

 tary character of this specimen is made more remarkable by the fact of the 

 incalculable numbers of hyaenas' teeth which have been discovered in the 

 same cavern. The size of the Ursus spelaus must be regarded as one of its 

 striking and remarkable characters, but if this character were not associated 

 with modifications of the osseous and dental structures, it might only indi- 



