CHARACTERS OE THYLACOLEO CARNIEEX. 
641 
I have, however, pursued my comparisons of the Thylacolean pelvis with that of 
smaller Marsupial vegetarians, and also with the pelvis of the existing carnivorous 
Marsupials, the largest of which is small in comparison with Thylacoleo. 
In all these existing Marsupials the triedral character of the elongate ilium is 
retained, but in a much less marked degree than in Macropus. The outer dividing 
angle or ridge is feebly developed, and the facets it divides are not excavated, not in 
any of them, at least, as in the Kangaroos. The anterior end of the ilium bends 
outward in the Koala, and, in a greater degree, in the Wombat. The dasyurine 
pelvis, figs. 4, 5, resembles in the minor indication of such bend that of the cave-fossil; 
and also shows the relative shortness of the ischium as it extends from the aceta¬ 
bulum, and the characters of that cup. But both Thylacinus and Diabolus differ from 
Thylacoleo in the minor development of the superacetabular process, t, in the size 
of which the great pouched Carnivore resembles the Felines. Both, however, repeat 
in the mere roughened indication of the strong antacetabular process, i, in the 
Kangaroos, the character by which the Felines resemble Thylacoleo. The triangular 
facets, to, at the fore-end of the ischio-pubic symphysis, for the attachment of the 
pouch-bones are as in Thylacoleo. 
Thus it was seen that in the points in which the Fossil differs from the Feline, it 
adheres to the Marsupial type, especially as shown by the larger still existing pouched 
Carnivores; as, for example, on the shorter extent of the ischium below the ace¬ 
tabulum and in its tuberous end being continued more squarely mesiad, instead of 
bending forward to join the pubis, as in Felis (fig. 3, o). 
On the whole the fossil pelvis most resembles the dasyurine modification of this 
part of the skeleton, but by characters too nearly similar to those in the equipedal 
Diprotodonts to sanction a reference of Thylacoleo to the Polyprotodont group. 
One character by which the larger Carnivore differs from the existing Marsupials, 
and agrees with the placental Carnivores, viz.: the superacetabular tuberosity, t, e.g., 
indicates a disposition of powerful limb-muscles in harmony with their frequent 
actions in a predatory quadruped engaged in pulling down a larger vegetable-feeder. 
In the differential modifications of the pelvis of the terrestrial pouched grazers and 
browsers may be seen relations to muscular developments needed for the transfer of 
locomotive power, in rapid flight, to one pair of limbs, the hinder ones, in which the 
larger terminal horn-sheaths of the digits approach the character of hoofs. The 
smaller fore-paws retain the unguiculate structure, relating, in the female, to the 
economy of the pouch. 
If the foregoing details be deemed tedious, or seem superfluous, in addition to the 
deductions as to the life-work of the extinct Marsupial founded on its skull, its teeth, 
its fore-limbs, I must plead the deserved reputation as a Comparative Anatomist of 
the distinguished Member of the Royal Society, who doubts the carnivority of the 
