2l8 TlMEHRI. 
in Australia, and the earliest known marsupial was the 
Virginian opossum of the United States. From the 
occurrence of related fossil forms of opossums in North 
America and in Europe, the path of the distribution of 
these marsupials in South America is traced out — no 
land connexion between Australia and South America 
being required for the solution of the problem. 
The group of the Hoofed animals or Ungulata — the 
group of the horses, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, 
the oxen, sheep and camels, etc. — is represented by 
the bush-hog or peccary, (Dicotyles torquatus) y with 
its young, and by a small young specimen of the 
wood-deer, (Coassus superciliaris) of the simple-horned 
division of this group of the ruminating animals. The 
flesh of the bush-hog is much esteemed for food, w r hile 
certain of its teeth are in common use among the Indians 
for necklaces. Both of these specimens belong to the 
Even-toed group of the Ungulata, while the tapir is the 
representative of the Odd-toed group of this order, the 
only living representative of this group native to 
America, though there were abundant forms in late 
geological periods. No specimen of the tapir is in the 
Museum colleftion. 
Of the group of the Carnivora, to which reference 
has already been made as the order comprising the 
forms allied to the dogs, cats, seals and bears — forms 
distinguished by their long sharp claws, and by their 
teeth, of which there are six incisors in each jaw be- 
tween very large canines or eyeteeth — several forms 
are shewn, besides the skins of the jaguar on the landing. 
Thus there is a fine specimen of the ocelot or labba- 
tiger (Felts pardalis) pouncing on an otter, besides 
