N0.1M9. THE OSTEOLOGY OF SIXOPA— MATTHEW. 233 



ticial and adaptive characters, and rest principally upon deep-seated 

 resemblances such as are found in the characters of the base of the 

 skull, the dental and dorsolumbar formula?, etc., we tind every known 

 creodont very much nearer to the modern Carnivora than to the modern 

 marsupials. On the other hand, the little that is known of Cretaceous 

 marsupials bears distinctly the marsupial stamp in ever}' detail and 

 does not show any essential approach to the earl}- placentals. 



