1900,] MATHEWS—TRIBES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 123 
segments of the other digits are not shown. The head of the 
femur comes up against a bone which undoubtedly belongs to the 
pelvis. Where the head of the femur-touches it this bone is thick 
and solid ; further behind it appears to have been a very slender, 
slightly curved rod. On the ventral surface of the animal, 
immediately in front of the sacral region, I find a quadrate patch of 
granulations, which seem to represent the impression of some bone 
pitted like those of the head. This may indicate a broad pubis or 
it may be produced by the bony armor of the skin in that region, 
Elsewhere I find numerous evidences of the existence of dermal 
defenses. None of these probably belonged to the upper region of 
the body. They apparently consisted of small bony plates which 
were arranged in rows. These began at or near the midline below 
and swept outward and backward to the sides. In one place I find 
ten of these rows in a width of two millimetres. 
As to the relationship of this animal, it seems to me that while 
there are many structures yet unknown, such as the arrangement of 
the bones and teeth of the roof of the mouth, the sternal apparatus, 
and the condition of the vertebra, it is closer to such forms as 
Hylonomus than to Branchiosaurus. The form of the head is 
different from Branchiosaurus; likewise the ribs and the limb 
bones. 
NATIVE TRIBES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
BY R. H. MATHEWS, L.S. 
(Read March 16, 1900.) 
Western Australia contains an estimated area of 978,299 square 
miles, or, inclusive of the contiguous islands, about 1,057,250 
square miles, being about eight times the size of Great Britain. It 
is the largest of all the colonies of Australia, containing more than 
a third of the entire area of that continent. In the southwest 
coastal districts there is much land suitable for farming operations, 
and farther north there are extensive grassy downs, capable of de- 
pasturing immense numbers of sheep and cattle. Considerable 
areas are gold-preducing, chief among which may be mentioned 
Coolgardie, Cue, Marble Bar and Kimberley—comparable in ex- 
tent tosome prominent European kingdoms. By far the greater 
portion of the colony, however, consists of vast arid tracts of sand 
and scrub, which is practically a desert. 
