1865.] Sclater on the Mammals of Australia. 15 



cellence the most important group of the Australian Mammal-fauna. 

 They are at once the most numerous in species, and in the former 

 condition of Australia, before the influx of Europeans took place, were 

 probably likewise the most prevalent form of Mammalian life as 

 regards individuals. In his great work on the Mammals of Australia, 

 Mr. Gould has devoted the whole of the second volume to the illustra- 

 tion of the members of this family, figuring no less than 44 species, 

 and although some of these will be looked upon by most naturalists 

 as rather in the light of local varieties than species, it is probable that 

 the Australian Fauna embraces not less than 50 well-defined members 

 of this beautiful group of animals. These are divisible into two 

 genera — Macropus and Hypsiprymnus. The former genus contains 

 the larger Kangaroos with the upper canines usually deciduous, when 

 present, and the toes of the fore-feet nearly even ; while Hypsiprymnus 

 embraces the Kangaroo-Eats, as they are usually termed, which arc 

 all of smaller size, possess well-developed canines, and have the 

 central toes of the fore-feet proportionately larger, so as to accom- 

 modate their digging habits. Of the true Kangaroos Mr. Gould has 

 included 39 species in his above-mentioned work, while the Kangaroo- 

 Rats are less numerous, some ten only of this group being at present 

 known to Science. 



The second family of Australian Marsupials — the Phascolomyidas — 

 are numerically of much less importance than the preceding, although 

 the form and general appearance of the animals of the single known 

 genus Phascolomys is hardly less outre than that of the Kangaroos. 

 Until very recently but one species of this group was accurately known, 

 although so long ago as in 1845, Professor Owen had characterized 

 a second from the form of its skull. While further information is 

 still required upon this species, a second very distinct form of the 

 group, remarkable for its hairy muffle and pointed ears, has been 

 received from South Australia,* and Mr. Gould figures two others — ■ 

 one of which may possibly be identical with Professor Owen's species. 

 In general structure the Wombats are closely allied to the next family, 

 the Phalangers — although their exclusively terrestrial habits naturally 

 involve minor points of difference, which added to the somewhat trench- 

 ant characters presented by their dentition, have induced naturalists 

 to recognize them as a separate family. 



The Phalangistidse, which next follow, are a much more extensively 

 developed group of animals, presenting us with several well-marked 

 generic forms, and nearly twenty readily distinguishable species in the 

 Australian Mammal-fauna. While the Kangaroos are mostly grazing 

 animals, and the Wombats burrowers and grubbers, the Phalangers are 

 essentially arboreal in their habits and much more strictly nocturnal 

 than the two former groups. In the daytime the Phalangers lie con- 

 cealed in the hollow of trees, issuing forth at night to feed amongst 

 the branches upon " leaves, buds, and fruits." The Koala or " Native 

 Bear "(Phascolarctos), of which form a single isolated species only is 

 known, serves to ccnnect the Phalangers with the Wombats — being 



* Phascolomys lasiorhinus, fJould, Mainm. of Austr., ii. pi. 59, 60. 



