34 VERTEBRATA, 



No. 50. [181] Diprotodon Australis, Owen. 



Skull and Lower Jaw (cast). This gigantic Kangaroo — nearly equaling 

 the Hippopotamus in size — was discovered in the Pleistocene beds at Darling 

 Downs, Australia. While retaining the dental formula of its living homo- 

 logue, it shows remarkable modifications of its limbs. The hind limbs were 

 shorter and stronger, and the front limbs were longer and stronger than those 



of living Kangaroos; yet the ulna and radius were so articulated as to give 

 the forepaw the rotatory action. The dental formula was i f:f , c |. ^ \:\, 

 m |;|=28. The front upper incisors were very large and scalpriform, as in 

 the Wombat ; the premolars were soon shed ; and the molars had two ridges 

 disposed as in the Tapir and Kangaroo, but more compressed and prominent. 

 The Diprotodon, in this last respect, approached the pachyderms, furnishing, 

 says Pictet, a new proof of parallelism existing between the monodelphs and 

 didelphs. The original of this fine specimen is in the British Museum. A 

 part of the right lower ramus is wanting. Size, 3 ft. 5 in. x 1 ft. 10 in. 



