PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE FOSSIL MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA. 17 'J 



§ 7. Lacri/mal, maxillary, and palatal characters 0/ Phascolomys Mitchelli, Ow. — So 

 much of the lacrymal (73) is fortunately preserved on the right side of the subject of Plate 

 XVII. fig. 3, t, as to indicate the affinity of the fossil to certain existing Wombats. This 

 bone, both in Fhascolomys vomlatns* and F/tasc. plafyrhhins (Woodcut, fig. 5), developes 

 a prominent tubercle above 73 at its upper border, below the fronto-maxillary suture 

 (n-21). In Fhascolomys latifrons (fig. 6) a feeble swelling of the lacrymal (73), where it 



Lacrj-mal &c. characters, Phascolomys latifroiis. 



joins the frontal (n), answers to the tubercle. The indications of a lacrymal canal are 

 minute in all Wombats. The lacrymal of Fhasc. Mitchelli (Plate XVII. fig. 3, 73) shows 

 the well-developed tubercle (t) in the same relative position to the fronto-maxillary suture 

 as in Phascolomys vomhatus and Fhasc. platyrhinus : the bone anterior to the tubercle 

 is flatter, less excavated in Phase. Mitchelli than in those existing Wombats, and herein 

 more resembles the lacrymal in Phascolomys latifrons. 



The alveoli of the five upper molars of each side (Plate XVII. fig. 5, p 3, 4, m i, 2, 3) with 

 the intervening part of the bony palate (ib. 20, 21) are preserved in the present fossil. 

 The form of the latter adheres to the type of that of Fhascolomys iwnbatusf and Fhasc. 

 platyrhinus (Woodcut, fig. 7) ; in Fhasc. latifrons (Woodcut, fig. 8) the palate (20, 21) is less 

 contracted anteriorly. The fore part of the postpalatal apertures (Plate XVII. fig. 5, b) 

 does not reach that of the hindmost socket [m a) in the fossil, which also in this respect 

 agrees with Fhascolomys vombatus% and Phase, platyrhinus (Woodcut, fig. 7, b) ; whilst it 



* Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. iii. pi. xxxvii. figs. 1 & 2. It is also represented in figs. 2 & 3 of Dr. Mukie's memoir 

 loc. cit. p. 814, but the suture dividing the tubercular lacrymal from the frontal is not marked, 

 t Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. ii. plate Ixxi. fig. 1. 

 t Ibid. 



