SUB-FOSSIL REMAINS FROM KING ISLAND. 
McKie Bowling, the proprietor of that part of the island, and was 
instrumental in securing the first collection that was made. A 
short time afterwards Miss Diekson, of Hobart, visited the island, 
and was shown the fossil remains by Mr. Bowling. On her return 
to Hobart Miss Dickson brought the matter under the notice of 
the Royal Society of Tasmania, with the result that Mr. R. M. 
Johnston and the late Mr. Alex. Morton went across from Laun- 
ceston, and, through the instrumentality of Mr. Bowling, were 
able to secure a series of specimens, which they kindly placed at 
our disposal for description. This collection included a consider- 
able number of bones of an Emu, and, after a careful examination 
of the latter, they were described as the remains of a new species, 
to which the name Dromeus minor was given.* 
The collection received from Messrs. Johnston and Morton 
included also skulls of a Wombat and Dasyurus, and, in view of the 
importance of the remains as indicating the existence in the islands 
of Bass Strait of animals, such as an Emu and a Wombat, distinct 
from those of the mainland and Tasmania, we thought it advisable 
to make further investigations, and, accordingly, one of us (J. A. 
Kershaw) went across to King Island, and spent some time there 
carefully collecting as much material as was available. Most 
fortunately for us Mr. Bowling was much interested in our work, 
and afforded us the most generous assistance, without which it 
would not have been possible for us to secure the large series of 
specimens that we now possess, and we take this opportunity of 
thanking Mr. Bowling for his invaluable aid. 
The remains were chiefly distributed over the sand dunes on 
the extreme southern portion of the island.t The area covers 
some 300 acres in extent, and consists of a series of small 
ridges, the highest of which is on the south-east point. The sand 
is constantly being blown from one side or the other of these ridges, 
and the bones alternately exposed and covered. During the strong 
winds which prevail these are sifted out in considerable numbers, 
and lie distributed along the sides and in the trough of the ridges 
Portions of the skulls, lower jaws, and limb bones of Wallabies 
were found mixed up with the leg bones of the Emu, skulls of 
Wombats and Dasyures, and here and there portions of the 
skeletons of both Seals and Sheep. Wallaby remains were by far 
the most numerous, and, though extremely fragile, fairly complete 
skulls could be obtained. Portions of the lower jaws were scattered 
about in large numbers along the sides of some of the ridges, which 
had recently been exposed to the action of the wind. 
* “Victorian Naturalist,” xxiii., p. 140 (1906). 
+ We are indebted to Mr. C. L. Barrett for the opportunity of illustrating the nature of 
these dunes, 
C7] 
