DISTRIBUTION OF MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES 321 



only two species have as yet been discovered, one from the 

 mountains of Ecuador and the other from the interior 

 of Colombia. 



The fourth and only remaining family of Diprotodont 

 Marsupials is the Phascolomyidte, or Wombats, of which 

 three species are generally distinguished, all belonging 

 to the more temperate regions of Australia and extending 

 into Tasmania, to which island Phascolomys ursinus is 

 restricted. 



Section IV. — Distribution of Polyprotodont 

 Marsupials 



Like the Diprotodonts the Polyprotodont Marsupials 

 now known embrace three Australian and one American 

 family, which are all, as already remarked, generally 

 carnivorous and insectivorous and but rarely omnivorous 

 in their diet. The Peromelidaz, or Bandicoots, which are 

 placed at the head of the list, are very distinct in structure 

 and sharply denned from their relatives by the syn- 

 dactylism of the hind feet, consist of three genera only — 

 Perogale, which is restricted to the continent of Australia, 

 and Peromeles, which ranges over New Guinea, the Moluc- 

 cas, and the New Britain group, its representatives in these 

 islands being specifically distinct. The last genus is a very 

 peculiar little animal, the Pig-footed Bandicoot (Chosropus) 

 which is restricted to the Australian continent. 



Between the Peromelidw and the Dasyuridze is perhaps 



the best place for the very anomalous mole-like form of 



Marsupials which has recently come to light in Central 



Australia. We need not again descant on the extra- 



x 



