4 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
which underlies the chalk and greensands, and is collectively 
termed the Jurassic or Oolitic system, we shall find that Mar- 
supials, more or less closely allied to the most primitive carni- 
vorous types now inhabiting Australia, were once widely spread 
over Europe. As these Marsupials are quite unknown after the 
Jurassic period, we may assume that during or soon after that 
time they reached Australia, where they have ever since been 
completely cut off from all the rest of the Old World, save New 
Guinea and the islands above mentioned. 
Before leaving this part of our subject, we may refer some- 
what more fully to the views of Dr. Wallace, as displayed in 
his most recent work, with regard to the former connections 
of Australia. After stating that the geological relations of the 
western Malayan islands are undoubtedly with continental Asia, 
he gives his reasons for considering that the very shallow seas 
connecting the islands of the northern area indicate that not 
only Java and Borneo, but likewise the Philippines, formed a 
south-eastern extension of the Asiatic continent at a com- 
paratively recent date; this connection being still more clearly 
demonstrated by the evidence of the fauna and flora. Passing 
over the deep seas separating this original land-mass from 
New Guinea and Australia, we at once enter the area dis- 
tinguished by the peculiarities of its fauna mentioned above, 
and which, as we have said, appears to have been isolated 
from the Asiatic continent since the Jurassic period. A study 
of New Guinea, the Moluccas, and the islands as far as Lom- 
bock in the north, and Tasmania in the south, seems further to 
prove that the land of Australia was formerly much more exten- 
sive that it is at present. So far as the eastern coast is con- 
cerned, this is amply demonstrated by the great barrier reef, 
which indicates the original limits of the land in this direction. 
On the same coast, but at a greater distance from the land, 
are several scattered islands, among which is New Caledonia, 
