Dr. KrefFt on Thylacoleo. 169 



2. Flustramorpha flahellaris. B.M. 



The polyzoariura pale reddish brown ; the frond widening 

 upwards, rather irregular ; the terminal lobes broad, fan-shaped 

 or irregular, much broader at the end. 



Eschara Jlabellaris, Busk, Cat. of Marine Polyzoa, ii. p. 91, tab, 107. 

 figs. 7, 8, 9, 10. 



Hah. Port Natal. 



This species much resembles Flustra marginata in external 

 appearance, but is much more calcareous and supported bj 

 marginal and transverse horny ribs, which are stouter but do 

 not form such a regular margin to the frond as in the other 

 species ; and the frond is broader, and more irregularly divided, 

 the terminal lobes being very irregular in shape, very unlike 

 the regular strap-shaped furcate fronds of the former species. 



Mr. Busk, to whom I had sent a small specimen of this 

 species, informs me that it is the one he described and figured 

 in the ' Catalogue of Marine Polyzoa ' under the name of 

 Eschara Jlabellaris j but in neither the figure nor description is 

 there any mention of the lobes being divided and supported 

 by a cartilaginous margin j in other respects the figure is a 

 very good representation. 



XXV. — A Cuvierian Principle in Palceontology^ tested hy 

 evidences of an extinct Leonine Marsiqnal (Thylacoleo 

 carnifex), hy Professor Owen, F.E.S., D.C.L., Foreign 

 Associate of the Institute of France. Reviewed by Gerard 

 Krefft, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., M.F.D.H., &c.* 



[Plates XI. & XII.] 



Professor Owen spoke boldly when he thus headed his last 

 treatise on the Extinct Mammals of Australia, — too boldly, in 

 fact — because if the " Cuvierian Principle in Palaeontology" is 

 once found wanting, it must be reduced in value ever after- 

 wards. The founder of a science is not always able to provide 

 at first for all the exigencies which may arise out of a careful 

 investigation of his system ; and the worship of learned men 

 may go a little too far. It is right to love the master who 

 taught us, and I admire Professor Owen on that account ; but 

 when anatomists like Flower, Falconer, and Huxley differ 

 from Cuvier as they differ from Buffon and Linnasus, Professor 

 Owen will probably reconsider his verdict and make the 

 amende honorable. Cuvier and his principles cannot always 

 be depended on in the classification of Australian fossils ; and 



* From the 'Sydney Mail,' May 18, 1872, with corrections and the 

 illustrations communicated by the Author. 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.4. Vol.:is.. 14 



