MULTITUBERCULATA, 281 
the Tertiary epoch. Geographica'ly their distribution was 
extensive, embracing Europe, North America, and South 
Africa. Whether they occur in South America is, however, 
doubtful, as it is by no means certain whether the forms from 
the Tertiary deposits of that continent which have been assigned 
to the group are rightly referred. 
One of the most remarkable features connected with these 
ancient Mammals is the specialised nature of their dentition ; 
a specialisation so great that it is quite certain they could not 
Six views of an Upper Molar Tooth of a Multituberculate Mammal. The 
two small figures in the centre of the group indicate the natural size of tlie 
specimen. 
have been the ancestors of Mammals in general; although 
this would be no bar to their having given origin to the 
existing representatives of the Monotremes. If it should 
prove that the Multituberculata have any ancestral relation- 
ship to the latter, it would indeed go far towards the con- 
firmation of the suggestion that the Monotremes are but 
remotely allied to the higher Mammals, even if they have 
a right to the title of Mammals at all, 
As a group, the Multituberculata are characterised by their 
