Geological Society of 'London. 237 



of Wombats (Phascolomys), many wombat-liko Kangaroos of Walla^ 

 bies [Hahnatarus). He proposed to divide the Kangaroos into the 

 following groups : — 



1. Macropus, dentition as in Macropiis major. 



2. Hahnaturus, with the premolar permanent, divided into two 

 sub-groups : — 



a. True Wallabies, with the premolars long, narrow, and com- 



pressed, and the rami of the lower jaw but slightly anchy- 

 losed. 



b. Wombat-like Wallabies, with the premolars compact, 



rounded, and molar-like, and the rami of the lower jaw 

 firmly anchylosed. 



Illustrative sketches and photographs accompanied this paper. 



Discussion. — Prof. Owen remarked upon the importance of the researches made 

 by Dr. KrefFt and Prof. Thomson. No traces of man had been found. The 

 numerous remains of Mammals, especially the Herbivorous species, had doubtless 

 been carried into the caves by Thylacoleo. 



Prof. Busk inquired on what evidence Prof. Owen decided that the tootb of 

 Thylacoleo was that of a Carnivore. 



Pro£ Owen indicated the remarkable compression of the tooth, and the absence of 

 the spatulate form proper to the Kangaroos, as characteristic of Thylacoleo, and 

 indicative of carnivorous habits. 



Mr. W. Boyd Dawkins stated that Thylacoleo was mnst closely allied to Plagiaulax, 

 which was probably a true Herbivore. He indicated the importance of the question^ 

 as, if Thylacoleo were a Carnivore, Plagiaulax would be one also. 



Prof. Owen remarked that Plagiaulax was also a Carnivore. The premolars 

 resembled the small tubercular molars of the Hysenas, Felidse, etc. The anterior 

 tooth, associated with the small tubercular tooth, was compressed and sharp pointed, 

 The low condyle, forming part of the angle of the jaw, was such, as occurs in Thylqr 

 cinus. 



Dr. Duncan remarked that it is by no means necessary that all Carnivorou^ 

 Mammals should be formed upon the same type, and that he did not see why there 

 should not be a carnivorous form of the Kangaroo type. 



The Chairman said that the settlement of these questions must now be postponed 

 until we obtain further materials. He mentioned the discovery by Dr. Krefft, in the 

 interior of Australia, of a species of fish resembling Zepidosiren, and possessing 

 singular affinities to some of the Devonian fishes. 



2. " On the Fossil Eemains of Mammals found in China." By 

 Prof. Owen, LL.D., F.E.S., F.G.S. 



The specimens of teeth described by the author were obtained by 

 Kobert Swinhoe, Esq.. late H. M. Consul at Formosa, chiefly by 

 purchase in the apothecary's shops at Shanghai. They included two 

 new species of Stegodon (named S. sinensis and S. orientalis), a new 

 Hyaena (H. sinensis), a new Tapir (Tapirus sinensis), a new BMno- 

 ceros (-S. sinensis), and a species of Kaup's genus Chalicotherium 

 (C. sinense). The author remarked that the whole of these teeth 

 presented an agreement in colour, chemical condition, and matrix; 

 which led to the conclusion that all belonged to the same period. 

 But for the presence of the Chalicotherium, they would have been 

 referred either to the Upper Pliocene or the Post Pliocene period. 

 The author did not consider that the occurrence of one Anoplothe- 

 rioid species need affect the determination of the age of these fossils, 

 especially as Chalicotherium departs in some respects from the type 



