404 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



the Kangaroo, the Zygomaturns more resembled the Wombat in the 

 face and head. 



Prof. Owen stated that, from the evidences afforded by the photo- 

 graphs, he finds the dentition of this upper jaw to consist of three 

 incisors and five molars on each side, of which the first appears to be 



q Q n Q 1 — 1 4 4 



a premolar and the rest true molars, i. e. i. — , c. — .j). — ,m, — ; 

 agreeing, in this formula, with Macropus and Diprotodon. The mo- 

 dffications of this dentition resemble those of the latter genus in the 

 retention of the premolar, after the last true molar has come into 

 its place, and in the superior size of the first, as compared vi'ith the 

 second and third incisors. He then described in detail the sockets 

 of the incisors, and the form and conditions of the molar teeth, 

 which are highly chEiracteristic of the marsupiality of this huge and 

 most strange extinct quadruped. The cranial characters, which 

 were next described, equally elucidate this affinity. The peculiar 

 facial bones were then described in detail ; that portion in advance 

 of the orbits forming, as it were, a short pedunculate appendage to 

 the rest of the skull, increasing in a remarkable manner in both ver- 

 tical and lateral extent as it approaches the muzzle, but not offering 

 any evidence of having borne a nasal horn, as thought to be probable 

 by Mr. Macieay. The cavity of the nose is divided by a bony 

 septum, — a character which Prof. Owen has lately found to exist 

 also in a rare species of living Wombat — to a much greater extent 

 than in other known marsupials. Wholly concurring in Mr. Mac- 

 leay's conclusions as to the marsupial nature of the fossil in ques- 

 tion. Prof. Owen does not think that it exhibits evidences of a 

 generic distinction from Diprotodon. The Professor suggested, 

 however, that probably the lower jaw, when found, may show some 

 peculiarities of dentition and proportions similar to those on which 

 he has founded the genus Notothermm. 



LI. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



ON SONOROUS FLAMES. 

 To John p. Gassiot, Esq. 



SINCE my last, I have made some pretty experiments on sonorous 

 flames, of which, with other related matters, I am preparing a full 

 account for Silliman's Journal. Among them are the following : — 



1 . When the flame is silent and cannot be made to sing by the 

 external sound, I find that gently vibrating the jet-pipe causes it in- 

 stantly to commence its musical performance. This occurs as well 

 when the pipe does not strike the tube as when it does, and is the 

 result simply of a more rapid mixing of the gas with the air, by which 

 it is more certainly brought to the explosive condition. 



2. When all other means of exciting the flame to sound have failed, 

 we can at once cause the singing to begin by introducing a current 

 of air, properly graduated, into the lower end of the tube. In many 

 cases the lightest breathing suffices to awaken the sound. 



