15 



The animals of the country were principally of the 

 Marsupial order, of which the well-known Kangaroo was 

 most prominent. An examination of the fossil fauna showed 

 that the previous inhabitants had been of a similar character, 

 though their size had been much greater. 



The curious Ornithorynchus, or Duck-billed Rat, was a 

 native of Australia, and was long considered as a connecting 

 link between mammalia and birds, but had now been satis- 

 factorily proved to be one of the former. Large mammals 

 had hitherto been almost unknown ; Captain Grey had, 

 however, seen the foot-prints of a large kind of Buffalo in 

 the North West — a discovery which has been recently con- 

 firmed by Dr. Leichardt meeting with droves of the animals 

 themselves. Prior to these being known, the wild dog was 

 the largest with which naturalists were acquainted ; but there 

 were many circumstances that had led settlers to suppose 

 that there were others of a far greater size allied to the 

 Hippopotamus. 



He proposed to resume the subject on a future day, 

 and would devote Ins next paper to the consideration of the 

 Australian natives. 



THIRD MEETING. 



ROYAL INSTITUTION, 17th November, 1845. 

 The PRESIDENT in the Chair. 



Dr. Jeffreys presented a copy of the third edition of 

 his pamphlet on the Matico plant, for which the thanks of 

 the Society were offered. 



Mr. Archer exhibited two specimens of shells from 

 Cuba, the Mytilis and Anemia, and a curious mineralogical 

 specimen said to have been found in a lead mine in North 

 America. 



Dr. Carson read some authenticated cases of the con- 

 traction and dilation of the muscular fibres of the Iris. 



The President exhibited a specimen of the Ribbon 

 Jasper, from Gwalior. 



