378 Proceedings of the 



in this specimen, I am led to infer that this skull either be- 

 longs to a recent species, or at least to a distinct one from the 

 ' Phascolomys MitchelliV 



Before concluding, attention was drawn to what appears 

 an interesting osteological investigation, and one in which 

 many valuable characters might be found for fixing classifica- 

 tion on a more strictly scientific basis ; this was the general 

 form, modification of structure, and more especially the posi- 

 tion, of the foramina for the transmission of blood-vessels and 

 nerves at the base of the skull. No part of the skeleton pre- 

 sents so many essential and adaptive points at one view. 

 The base of the skull is less connected with the wants and 

 habits of the species than most other parts of the skeleton ; 

 and lesser peculiarities, when constant, become valuable aids 

 in the higher divisions of classification, as well as in the minor 

 groups of families, genera, and species. For instance, in pla- 

 cental mammals, the internal carotid artery generally passes 

 into the cranium by a foramen in the tympanic bone, or, when 

 that bone is small, by a fissure between the tympanic bone 

 and basi-sphenoid. In the skull of the wombat, and. other 

 implacental mammalia, the artery enters by a special cana- 

 lis caroticus, running in an inward and forward direction. 

 This has been considered just as characteristic, in a zoological 

 point of view, of the whole marsupial order, as the articulation 

 of the head to the atlas by a double condyle is of the whole 

 mammalian class itself. The distinction here mentioned was 

 pointed out by a young and zealous comparative anatomist, 

 H. N. Turner, jun., in a series of papers communicated to the 

 Zoological Society of London several years ago. His untimely 

 death, the consequence of a wound received in dissection, in 

 the early part of 1852, deprived science of his services, and 

 has left this field of investigation open to others. 



II. Note on the Discovery of Hematite Iron Ore on the Garpel, Ayrshire. 

 By Alexander Rose, Esq., Lecturer on Geology and Mineralogy. 



My attention was called to the subject of these notes by 

 the perusal of the following paragraph, which has been pub- 

 lished in some of the newspapers : — 



" Important Discovery of Hematite Iron Ore.— A disco- 



