﻿NOTOTHERIUM. 263 



below the surface. "Usually," says the letter, "the salt-crust 

 is not firm enough for bullock- traffic, and I may safely say that 

 thousands of bullocks have at different times been bogged 



in crossing or attempting to cross It would appear 



that an immense herd of these [Diprotodons] and other animals 

 had got bogged, probably in seeking water in a dry season, 

 just as cattle do now in the north by hundreds. There is every 

 indication that all this region of South Central Australia was 

 formerly occupied by fresh-water lakes. We have, for instance, 

 remains of Alligators or Crocodiles from a district not far off, 

 and other indications of fresh-water life. Of course we are on 

 the look-out for lliylacoleo ; but, so far, it does not appear to 

 have been met with ; but I am quite hopeful that if we can 

 manage to prosecute the search," such remains will ulti- 

 mately be discovered. 



The difficulties of transport for such a great distance across 

 an arid and inhospitable country are, of course, enormous, but 

 when these are overcome, as we trust they will be, and some 

 at least of the skeletons safely housed in the Museum at 

 Adelaide, zoologists will look anxiously for their description, by 

 which our knowledge of the bony structure of this strange 

 monster will be rendered complete. 



Distribution. — Australia generally. 



In general structure the Diprotodontidoe. appear to connect 

 the Fhalangeridce. with the undermentioned extinct family. 



FAMILY NOTOTHERIID/E. 



GENUS NOTOTHERIUM. 

 Nototherhifn^ Owen, Cat. Foss. Mamni. Aves. Mus. 11. Coll. 

 Surgeons, p. 314 (1845). 



I. NOTOTHERIUM MITCH ELLI. 



Nototherium mitchelli^ Owen, loc. cit. ; Lydekker, Cat. Foss. 

 Mamm. Brit. JNIus., pt. v., p. 162 (1887). 



