DASYURIDA. sf 
development of the clavicle, which is connected by a ligament to 
the sternal apparatus, along with the rudimentary character of the 
epipubic bones, being also monotrematous ; this latter character, 
however, it shares with the Dasyurine Thylacinus. Referring 
back to the clavicular development the fact must not be lost sight 
of that this bone is reduced to a mere knob-like process in the 
Dasyures and is entirely absent in the Bandicoots, while in the 
Monotremes it connects by true ossification with the sternum. It 
may be sought to explain away this difference in the strength of 
the shoulder-girdle on the grounds that Notoryctes, Echidna, and 
Ornithorhynchus have the fore limbs strengthened, in order to 
enable them to burrow with the greater ease, but the superficiality 
of such a view is demonstrable at a glance if we take into con- 
sideration the fact that the Peramelide, which are also of fossorial 
habits, though not in so marked a degree as the genera mentioned 
above, are absolutely without rudiments of these bones. The 
method of reproduction in Woforyctes is undeniably one of the 
most interesting problems of the day in the world of science, and 
when solved will at once set at rest the question of its affinities. 
It seems probable that, though so essentially a burrowing 
animal, Votoryctes does not live in a burrow, but makes a nest in 
tussocks of grass or at the roots of small shrubs, burrowing, like 
the Peramelide, for food only. Its method of progression is some- 
what analogous to that of a Dolphin as, according to Dr. Stirling’s 
informants, it travels for varying distances at very few inches 
beneath the surface, then emerging crawls along the surface for a 
few feet and again dives below ; this seems to be necessary to the 
act of respiration. As fast as it bores by means of the fore feet 
and horny snout it closes up the burrow behind it with its hind 
feet. 
Finally, should the theory above advanced prove correct, we 
have now obtained a definite link between the proto- and meta- 
therian Sub-classes—a link which is somewhat analogous in 
position to that held by Branchiostoma between the vertebrate 
and invertebrate animals—and which will perhaps eventually 
bridge over the gulf which at present separates the Monotremes 
from the Marsupials. It is, however, probable that it is to 
embryological and palzontological research alone that we must 
look for the elucidation of the problem briefly hinted at above. 
In a work of this kind it is impossible to go more fully into 
the subject of this interesting animal. 
Family I1.—DASYURIDL. 
Thylacine; Native Cats; Pouched Mice, &c. 
Limbs subequal. Fore feet with five digits; hind feet asyn- 
dactylous, with four’ or five toes; hallux small and clawless, or 
