On the Recent and Extinct Irish Mammals. 45 
VI—ON THE RECENT AND EXTINCT IRISH MAMMALS. 
By A. LEITH ADAMS, F.r.s., F.4.8., PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY 
IN THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE FOR IRELAND. 
WITH PLATES I. TO V. 
[Read March 18, 1878.] 
DuRING perusals of documentary evidence and examinations 
of materials connected with the study of the recent and extinct 
Mammals of Ireland, I have become impressed with a belief that 
well authenticated data on these heads are desirable for the 
following reasons :— 
Many of the determinations since Thompson’s works were 
published, and other records spread over the Proceedings of 
Societies and elsewhere, have been supplemented by new matter 
and the views and opinions of observers at all times subject to 
correction with advancing science, appear to me in a few cases to 
admit of different constructions. 
It appears to me also desirable that several of the remains of 
the extinct species should be figured for the reason that although 
they are plentiful in Great Britain it is seldom that such, for 
example, bear’s skulls, are found in such perfect states of preserva- 
tion as usually met with in the lacustrine deposits of Ireland, more- 
over a good deal of confusion has crept into the subject of the fossil 
bears of Ireland owing, in some cases, to misunderstandings in 
nomenclature. In this way errors have been copied, and some- 
times opinions expressed which will not, as far as I can make 
out, admit of confirmation when tested by careful examinations 
of the objects. 
The following is a list of the Irish Fossil Mammals according 
to the views here expressed :—I am well aware that the results 
of my investigation of the subject are not in accordance with the 
determinations of previous observers, but I have been studious to 
establish in every instance my reasons for differing from the 
opinions of others, so that there may be no difficulty in compre- 
hending the points at issue. 
Of the extinct Post-tertiary Mammals, according to the latest 
published lists, as many as fifteen so-called species are recorded, 
