FAUNA OF THE POST-PLIOCENE. 



349 



its teeth, Diprotodon shows itself to be closely allied to the 

 living, grass-eating Kangaroos ; but the hind-limbs were not 

 so disproportionately long. In size, also, Diprotodon must 

 have many times exceeded the dimensions of the largest of 

 its living successors, since the skull measures no less than 

 three feet in length. The other form in question is Thylacolco 

 (fig. 259), which is believed by Professor Owen to belong to 

 the same group as the existing "Native Devil " {Dasyurus) of 

 Van Diemen's Land, and therefore to have been flesh-eating 

 and rapacious in its habits, though this view is not accepted 

 by others. The principal feature in the skull of Thylacoleo is 



Fig. 259. -Skull of Tkylac 



(After Flower.) 



ally reduced. 



the presence, on each side of each jaw, of a single huge tooth, 

 which is greatly compressed, and has a cutting edge. This 

 tooth is regarded by Owen as corresponding to the great cut- 

 ting tooth of the jaw of the typical Carnivores, but Professor 

 Flower considers that Thylacoleo is rather related to the Kan- 

 garoo-rats. The size of the crown of the tooth in question is 

 not less than two inches and a quarter ; and whether carnivo- 

 rous or not, it indicates an animal of a size exceeding that of 

 the largest of existing Lions. 



The order of the Edentates, comprising the existing Sloths, 

 Ant-eaters, and Armadillos, and entirely restricted at the present 

 day to South America, Southern Asia, and Africa, is one alike 

 24 



