﻿DIPROTODON. 261 



this use was. Of the bones of the Hmbs we are, unfortunately, 

 still ignorant. 



Distribution. — Australia generally. 



FAMILY DIPROTODONTID^. 



GENUS DIPROTODON. 



Diprotodon^ Owen, in Mitchell's Australia, vol. ii., p. 362 (1838). 



I. DIPROTODON AUSTRALIS. 



D{protodo7t australis, Owen, loc. cit. ; Lydekker, Cat. Foss. 

 Mamm. Brit. Mus., pt. v., p. 170 (18S7). 



This, the largest of known Marsupials, is the representative 

 not only of a distinct genus, but likewise of a separate family. 

 Having an elongated skull of about a yard in length, this 

 enormous Marsupial may be compared in size to the largest 

 Rhinoceros, although it probably stood taller on the legs. 



The dentition corresponds generally to that of the Kangaroos, 

 that is to say there are no canine teeth, and the incisors, of 

 which there are three pairs in the upper, and one in the lower 

 jaw, are separated by a long gap from the grinding teeth ; the 

 latter comprising one pair of premolars and three pairs of 

 molars in each jaw. The upper incisor teeth decrease in size 

 from the first to the third, each pair being in contact in the 

 middle line of the palate ; and the first pair being very large 

 and chisel-like, with a coating of enamel on their front surfaces 

 only, and growing continually throughout the life of their 

 owner. The single pair of lower incisors are very large, 

 directed almost straight forwards, and nearly cylindrical in 

 section, thus differing very widely from the corresponding 

 spatulate teeth of the Kangaroos. Each of the grinding teeth 

 carries a pair of bold transverse ridges, very similar to those 



