CHAP. XVII.] 
MAMMALIA. 
249 
rat-like animal discovered by Mr. Eraser in Ecuador, and which 
may perhaps belong to another family. 
Extinct Didelphyidce . — No less than seven species of Didelplvys 
have been found in the caves of Brazil, but none in the older 
formations. In North America the living species only, has been 
found in Post-Pliocene deposits. In Europe, however, many 
species of small opossums, now classed as a distinct genus, Pern - 
therium, have been found in various Tertiary deposits from the 
Upper Miocene to the Upper Eocene. 
We have here a sufficient proof that the American Marsupials 
have nothing to do with those of Australia, but were derived from 
Europe, where their ancestors lived during a long series of ages. 
Family *77. — DASYUPvIDiE. (10 Genera, 30 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Ne ARCTIC 
Sub-regions. 
Pai«earctic 
Sub-hegions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
Sub-regions. 
— 
• 
1.2 
The Dasyuridse, or native cats, are a group of carnivorous or 
insectivorous marsupials, ranging from the size of a wolf to that 
of a mouse, They are found all over Australia and Tasmania, 
as well as in New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan islands. 
Several new genera and species have recently been described by 
Mr. G. ICrefft, of the Sydney Museum, and are included in the 
following enumeration. Phasgogale (3 sp.), New Guinea, West, 
East, and South Australia; Aniechinomys (1 sp.), Interior of 
South Australia; Antechinus (12 sp.), Aru Islands, all Aus- 
tralia, and Tasmania ; Chcdocercus (1 sp.), South Australia ; 
Dadylopdla (1 sp.), Aru Islands and North Australia ; Podabrus 
(5 sp.), West, East, and South Australia, and Tasmania ; Myoictis 
(1 sp.), Aru Islands ; Sarcophilus (1 sp.), Tasmania ; Dasyurus (4 
sp.), North, East, and South, Australia, and Tasmania ; Thyla- 
cinus (1 sp.), Tasmania (Plate XI., vol. i. p. 439). 
Extinct species of Pxsyurus and Thylacinus have been found 
in the Post-Pliocene deposits of Australia. 
