Marsupialia — Thylacoleo, etc. 



83 



explains the origin of the large last premolar in Thylacoleo as Table-case 

 being not so much a carnivorous as it is a Marsupial Diprotodont No. 14. 

 character, merely exaggerated.* 



Of the Macropodidce, found fossil in Australia, the following 

 species are preserved in the collection, viz. : — 



JEpyprymnus rujescens. Macropus, many species, of which 

 the names titan, alius, anak, are intended to convey Sir .Richard 

 Owen's idea of the great size which some of these old kangaroos 

 attained. They were all herbivorous, subsisting on grass and 

 roots. 



Most of the remarkable series of remains from Australia were 

 obtained from caves, or from lacustrine and river deposits on 

 Darling- Downs, Queensland, associated with estuarine shells of JVCarsu- 

 the genus Melania, and from the Wellington Caves, New South P ialia - 

 Wales. 



Fio. 10ft. — Imperfect left ramus of mandible of Spalacotlierium tricuspidens (Owen), the Table-case, 

 outline figure is of the nat. size, c, d, lateral and upper views of a molar tooth. No. 14a. 

 From the Middle Purbeck, Swanage, Dorset. 



Great Oolite. 

 PLi.rbeck 



Mammals, 



Jn the Great Oolite of Stonesfield, near Oxford, the jaws of Phascolo 

 several small mammals were discovered and named Amphi- tberium, etc 

 tlierium, Phascolotherium, and Stereognathus. Mr. S. H. Beckles, 

 "F.R.S.. subsequently obtained a series of Mammalian remains 

 from the Freshwater Limestone of Purbeck, Dorset, mostly con- 

 sisting of lower jaws. According to Owen they belong to some 

 fourteen genera, the largest of which did not exceed in size a rat 

 or a mouse. The genus Spalacotherium belongs to a small group 

 of Mammals whose affinities are at present uncertain. 



Group MULTITUBERCTJLATA.t 



The Multituberculata include a number of small animals Table-case 

 in which the molars bear numerous tubercles, which in the No. 14a. 



* See Prof. Flower " On the affinities of Thylacoleo carnifex (Owen)." 

 " Quart. Journ." Geol. Soc, 1868, vol. xxiv., p. 307, and article " Mammalia " 

 (Marsupialia) " Encyclopedia Britannica," 9th ed., vol. xv., pp. 378-383. 



f These forms are now considered as distinct from the true Diprotodont 

 tvpe, and are probably referable to the Prototheria or Ornithodelphia. 



G 2 



