CHAPTER XXII 



FOSSIL REMAINS ON THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT 



My remarks on the fossils of Australia cannot exceed a 

 scanty sketch in extent ; in fact, it is not my intention to 

 make any general observations on the subject, or attempt 

 to deduce any final conclusions. I must confine myself to 

 a partial description of the few remarkable specimens 

 which I have at odd times found during my rambles, 

 some of which were of species hitherto unknown, and 

 several of which are now in the public collections of the 

 Australian colonies, or in those of private persons who 

 obtained them from me. 



Australia is usually described as the headquarters of 

 the marsupial class of animals, and justly so ; yet, as I 

 have already remarked, I think the fact that there are in 

 the country several mammals of placental type which are 

 undoubtedly of great antiquity is too frequently lost sight 

 of. I have not yet seen any satisfactory proof that 

 the Australian continent was the first home of the 

 marsupials, far less am I satisfied that the Australian 

 types of the class were derived from America, or the 

 American from Australia. It seems to be more likely 

 that the marsupials of both continents were derived from 

 some now submerged land of vast area, of which the multi- 

 tudinous islands of Polynesia are remaining points. Quite 

 possibly the southern lands (the true Australia) of the 

 Antarctic regions were at one time joined to our continent ; 

 and before accepting any theory of the origin of the 

 marsupialia, I want more light on the geology of 

 Polynesia, and of the great south land. The latter is as 



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