131 
Brehm holds them to be the connecting link between 
the Mammals; Birds; and Reptiles: but Schmidt differs, 
he would leave out the Birds for “a direct connection be- 
tween Birds and Mammals there ts not; they are allied 
through their aneestors.” 
But after a learned description of their anatomy 
compared with that of their contemporaries, including 
Man; the same result has to be confessed, which Professor 
Parker so naively admits concerning his ‘ Prototheres,” 
“Not a trace of any fossil discovery leads us from the pre- 
sent living Monotrema back to the primeval world to 
which nevertheless they stand in such palpable relation. 
The second group compared with their ancestors is 
THE LIVING MARSUPIAL ORDER. 
These stand betweeen the Monotremes, and higher 
Mammals according to the Professor. The Monotremes 
are the PROTOTHERIA (early beasts) of Huxley, and Parker : 
they are followed by the METATHERIA (after beasts), and 
end in the EUTHERIA (higher beasts); but Schmidt says 
“the gap between the Monotrema and the Marsuptals ts left 
to the free play of the imagination.” 
But “‘zthin the order” a dental connection is found. 
After a review of the dentition of extinct, and existing 
Marsupials, the connection is restored ‘almost directly.” 
The fossil, ‘Neoplagiaulax,’ and the existing dwarf Kan- 
garoo (B. Penicillata) having a sole grooved premolar, 
and two low tuberculate molarsin common: but that this 
suggests ancestral connection is discountenanced, nor can he 
“ steak of any direct relationship,’ he adds, however, that 
Lemoine has found agreements between ‘ Plagiaulax,’ and 
‘Microlestes:’ ‘and has thus lengthened the sertes from the 
present to the Trias formation,” this wording 7mplies 
Evolution ; but it is only founded upon ‘agreements.’ 
There are then no links discovered between reputed 
ga 
