186 



zoologists than myself, and thus to afford an opportunity of in- 

 spection by those interested in the discovery. 



As has already been stated, the generic name originally pro- 

 posed was Psammoryctes (sand-burro wer, Gr.), but during my 

 absence in North Australia I was made aware through informa- 

 tion emanating from my old friend and teacher, Professor Newton, 

 of Cambridge, whom in tiiis matter, as well as in many others, I 

 have to thank for acts of kindly interest and encouragement, that 

 this name had already been appropriated for another group of 

 animals, viz., by Poppig in 183G for a genus of mammals, and 

 again by Yejdovsky, in the Zeitschrift fur Wissenschaftliche 

 Zoologie for 1876, for a genus of worms. Psammorycter, which 

 is practically the same word, was used by Blanchard in 1840 for 

 a genus of Diptera. Professor Newton suggested Notoryctes as 

 being appropriate, in view of its Australian habitat, and this 

 name is, I think, preferable to Neoryctes, which had been pre- 

 viously proposed by Dr. Sclater. Though I regret extremely that 

 the original name is preoccupied, as its sand-burrowing habits are 

 so eminently the characteristic feature of its life, I think the new 

 one will be regarded as satisfactory. As to the specific name, the 

 extremely rudimentary condition of its eyes at once recommended 

 it as suitable. 



In view of the remarkable peculiarities of structure presented 

 by the sub-class Marsupialia, and of the fact that we find amongst 

 it analogous representatives of most of the orders of Mammalia, 

 it has seemed not a little remarkable that hitherto no marsupial 

 has been found with mole-like habits. In Notoryctes we have 

 such a form developed to an extreme degree, and I regret that 

 the exigencies of publication and the desire not to increase the 

 delay which has already occurred in the preparation of this 

 paper, together with the disadvantages, under which we labour in 

 our work, to which I have alluded, make it undesirable for me 

 now to attempt to enter into the many questions of interest, which 

 are suggested by the structure of so singular a type. Certain 

 osteological comparisons with existing forms are at once obvious, 

 but I believe these may also be made, in respect of the dentition, 

 with that of some of the Mesozoic mammals, to which, un- 

 fortunately, I can only refer by plates. Into these important 

 questions, however, I cannot, with the time and means at my 

 disposal, now attempt, even perfunctorily, to enter ; and I can 

 only hope that the description, so far as I have given it, will 

 enable others to form their own conclusions. 



In a subsequent paper I hope to embody the results of a 

 more detailed examination of the organs, for which I hope the 

 specimens now at my disposal will provide sufficient material in a 

 suitable condition. 



