EXISTING SPECIES OE THE GENUS PHASCOLOMYS 
smaller one also, the fur has a curious silky appearance, with small 
curls all over it, but it is coarse to the touch. There is also a light 
russet-brown line along the back. 
In regard to the mainland species (P. mitcheUi ) and the Tas- 
manian wombat, the difference in size is not so marked as it is in the 
case of the Island species when the latter is compared with either of 
the two former. The exceptionally large specimen of a Tasmanian 
wombat skull sent to us by Mr. Scott (Plate 9, Fig. 7) is so abnormal 
in size that we feel it would be misleading to take this as the maxi- 
mum size of Tasmanian specimens without drawing attention to the 
difference between it and the largest of all the other Tasmanian skulls. 
A glance at the measurements detailed in Table 4 will serve to show 
that this one is abnormal so far as Tasmanian wombats are concerned. 
We have therefore, in the summarized results of measurements, 
placed in brackets the figures referring to this skull and have taken 
the largest of the normal series of specimens as indicating what 
may be fairly regarded as the maximum size of Tasmanian 
wombats. 
In either case it is evident that, so far as size is concerned, the 
Tasmanian specimens form a group well marked off from those of the 
mainland, commonly described under the specific name of Phas - 
colomys mitcheUi. As Mr. Oldfield Thomas* says — “ The species 
seems to be well distinguished from Pit. mitcheUi by this one charac- 
ter of size, but otherwise there appears to be no difference of impor- 
tance between the two.” 
As a result of the evidence now available we have come to the 
conclusion that four species of existing wombats must be recognised, 
as follows : — 
1 . Phascolomys ur sinus j, Shaw. The oldest known species 
of the genus confined to the Islands of Bass Strait, 
and now extinct in all so far as known, except Flinders 
Island. This is considerably the smallest species. 
Type is the specimen sent to Newcastle by Hunter in 
1798. 
2. Phascolomys mitcheUi, Owen. The largest species and the 
most common one on the Australian mainland. It 
extends over New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
Australia. The head and body measure 950-1150 mm. 
The basal length of the skull measures 160-180 mm. 
Type (fossil) in Museum of the Geological Society, 
London. 
I Gat. of of Sub-fossil Bird and Marsupial 
Re mains'frw^King 1 * 111 Isand, Bass Strait,” Spencer and Kershaw. Memoirs Nat. Mu.,, Melbourne, 
111 ' P ' 29 ‘ [ 57 ] 
