46 



VERTEBRATA. 



bones attached to the pubis. These characteristic bones are found in 

 all Marsupials — male as well as female, except the Thylacinus. The 

 Order presents a remarkable diversity of structure, there being herbiv- 

 orous, carnivorous and insectivorous species, and in fact representatives 

 of many of the higher Orders of Mammals. In the herbivorous species, 

 the canines are usually wanting. Excepting one American and one Ma- 

 layan genus, Marsupials are now confined to Australia, Tasmania and 

 New Guinea. 



Marsupials were the first of Mammals — the Microlestes having been 

 discovered between the Lias and Keuper Sandstone near Stuttgardt, 

 while the Dromatherium was found in the Triassic (or Liassic) coal-field 

 of North Carolina. 



No. 181. Diprotodon Anstralis, Owen. 



Skull and Lower Jaw. This gigantic Kangaroo — nearly equalling the 

 Hippopotamus in size — was discovered in the Pleistocene beds at Darling Downs, 

 Australia, and was therefore contemporary with the great Sloths of South Ameri- 

 ca. Like the Megatherium, while retaining the dental formula of its living ho- 

 mologue, it shows remarkable modifications of its limbs. The hind limbs were 

 shorter and stronger, and the front limbs were longer and stronger than those of 

 living Kangaroos ; yet the ulna and radius were so articulated as to give the fore- 



paw the rotatory action. The dental formula was i *z\, G %-. p T-T' m i-i =2Sm 

 The front upper incisors were very large and scalpriform, as in the Wombat ; the 

 premolars were soon shed ; and the molars had two ridges disposed as in the 

 Tapir and Kangaroo, but more compressed and prominent. The D., in this last 

 respect, approached the Pachyderms, furnishing, says Pictet, a new proof of par- 



