PINNIPEDIA. 125 
although still living in great numbers, I have no doubt dates 
from the Pliocene Tertiary time, and I find, on the most minute 
comparison and measurements, no difference between the fossil 
and recent individuals, either of the adult age, or of the younger 
periods before the milk-teeth were shed to give place to the 
permanent molar teeth.” 
These remarks from so high an authority on Australian 
Zoology, having the concurrence of Prof. Mivart, cannot - be 
ignored, and, until proof to the contrary is forthcoming, we shall 
consider the honor of . being the original progenitor of our house- 
hold favorite as the due of the Australian Warrigal. 
Furthermore, Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., has kindly supplied the 
following note, extracted from Smyth’s Aboriginals of Victoria, 
i. p. 149, 1878: “Ina well section at Tower Hill, Western Vic- 
toria, sixty-three feet of volcanic ash was passed through, and 
then sixty feet of blue and yellow clay; here were found the skull 
and bones of the Dingo.” Again: “ At Lake Timboon, Western 
Victoria, bones of the Dingo were found associated with those of 
the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus ursinus), those of Macropus 
titan, and bones and teeth of Diprotodon.” 
Suborder II.—Pinnipedia. 
Seals; Walruses. 
External form fitted for an aquatic life; limbs modified into 
swimming organs ; digits of the hand decreasing in length from 
the first to the fifth ; of the foot first and fifth largest and longest, 
the three middle ones subequal in length. Dentition simple, 
generally unspecialized, the molar series similar to each other in 
size and form. 
Habits.—More or less purely aquatic ; carnivorous, feeding on 
fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans, to all of which they are very 
destructive owing to their exceptional voracity. The develop- 
ment of the brain is very great, and they are, therefore, easily 
domesticated, becoming much attached to their keepers and 
readily learning various tricks ; they are also affectionate parents, 
and courageously defend their progeny from threatened attack. 
A curious habit, common to all Pinnipeds, and the reason of 
which is still a matter for conjecture, is that of swallowing 
numerous stones up to the size of a hen’s egg. 
Distribution.—Seas of the circumpolar and temperate regions 
of the Globe chiefly, only one genus (Monachus) being strictly 
tropical, while but few species, one of which is the Australian 
Zalophus lobatus, range into tropical waters. 
