Royal Institution. 197 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL INSTITUTION. 
_ Feb. 6, 1846.—Prof. Owen ‘‘ On the Geographical Distribution of 
Extinct Mammalia.” 
_ The Professor announced his purpose to develope the law or prin- 
ciple on which mammals are, and have been, distributed over the 
surface of this planet. [A mammal was described as being charac- 
terized by a hairy skin, quick respiration, and, therefore, a tempera- 
ture usually higher than that of the surrounding atmosphere, and by 
bringing forth living young.] He stated that recent researches had 
led him to defined views on the following subjects :—1. Comparative 
development as between mammals of the Old and New World. 2. Pe- 
culiarities of mammalian distribution in Australia and the neighbouring 
islands. 3. Probable final causes of several instances of this develop- 
ment. 4. Inquiry whether the extinct species of mammals were loca- 
lized like the present races. 
Thus,—1. On the comparative mammalian development in the New 
and Old World of geographers. 'The Professor stated, that in the 
Old World mammals reached their highest type. Among other illus- 
trations of this truth, he contrasted the lion and royal tiger of Asia 
and Africa with the puma and jaguar of America; the large and use- 
ful camel with the feeble vicugna. The most remarkable of the 
herbivorous and pachydermatous animals, as the giraffe and the an- 
telope in the former class, and the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopota- 
mus, babroussa, horse, djiggitas, zebra in the latter, are peculiar to 
the Old World. With respect to the rodent animals, water-rats, 
hares, rabbits, tailless hares, are only found in the Old World. The 
beaver is, indeed, represented by an American species, but this is 
distinct from the beaver of the Danube. The monkeys of the Old 
World are equally distinguishable from those of the New. In the 
latter we find the prehensile tail, the wide and approximated nostrils, 
and the absence of an opposable thumb on the hand. 
Prof. Owen proceeded, 2ndly, to notice the peculiarities of mamma- 
lian distribution in Australia and the neighbouring islands.—In this 
tract of the globe all the animals are distinguished by two remark- 
able peculiarities, one positive and the other negative: (a) all are 
organized to carry about their young, from a very early period of 
embryonic life, in a portable pouch; and (6) none have attained a 
high degree of development. The largest marsupial carnivora are 
the Thylacinus and Dasyurus, which are respectively of the size of 
the dog and the wild cat. 
3. Probable final causes of several instances of this development 
were then adverted to. Thus, the marsupial inhabits a country liabie 
to long-continued drought, and where the indigenous animals are 
consequently compelled to make long journeys in search of water ; 
were it not for the arrangement enabling the marsupial to carry its 
young with ease from one place to another, the races would probably 
become soon extinct. The prehensile tail of the American marsu- 
pial, as well as of the porcupine, kinkajous, ant-eaters, and monkeys 
of the New World, have reference to their arboreal life in the huge 
