﻿The thylacines. 151 



short, simple, and non-extensile ; lower lip rounded and not 

 produced ; chest without a gland. Four pairs of large molar 

 teeth in each jaw, the lower ones with their outer cusps larger 

 than the inner ones. 



The following may be taken as the distinctive characteristics 

 of the genus under consideration : Size large ; form Wolf-like ; 

 muzzle long and slender ; ears of medium size ; tail long, short- 

 haired; feet markedly digitigrade, the front ones with the 

 toes furnished with short, thick, conical claws, and the hind 

 pair with only four toes, owing to the absence of the hallux. 

 Back marked with transverse black bands. Four teats. Mar- 

 supial bones rudimentary. Four pairs of premolar teeth. 



Although the occurrence in Queensland of an animal allied 

 to the Thylacine has been reported, this has not been confirmed 

 by the capture of specimens, and the genus seems now to be 

 represented only by the undermentioned Tasmanian species. 

 There is, however, good evidence that a larger species existed 

 during the Pleistocene, or latest geological epoch, on the 

 Australian mainland, where its fossilised remains are not 

 of uncommon occurrence in the caverns and superficial 

 deposits. 



I. TASMANIAN THYLACINE. THYLACINUS CYN()CKPHAr,US. 



Didelphys cynocephala, Harris, Trans. Linn. Soc, vol. ix., p. 



174 (1808). 

 Dasyiirus cynocephalus^ Geoffroy, Ann. Museum, vol. xv., p. 304 



(1810). 

 Thylacinus harrisi^ Temminck, Monogr. Mamm., vol. i., p. (y^ 



(1827). 

 Thylacinus cynocephalus^ Fischer, Syn. Mamm., p. 270 



(1829); Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 255 



(1888). 



