P1IASC0L0MYIDA. 
443 
work, is, however, very obscure and erroneous :* hence when 
Geoffroy subsequently had an opportunity of examining the 
animal in question, specimens having been brought alive to 
Europe by Cupt. Baudin, not finding it agree with iiis pub¬ 
lished description, he regarded it as constituting the type of n 
new genus, which ho characterised under the name Vhaxco* 
lomytt. Some years afterwords, 1 Uigur, not aware of the 
errors in the definition of the genus Vombatus , adopted that 
genus as well ns Geoflroy’s genus Phatcolomys , but he pro¬ 
posed the new name of A mb lot is in lieu of that of Wombat us. 
The dentition of the Wombat is remarkable for its general 
resemblance to that of the Rodents, which animals it also 
resembles in its gnawing propensities. The incisor teeth, as 
in the Rodents, are two in number, in each jaw. and widely 
separated from the other teeth; they are rootless and very long, 
curved, and approach to a cylindrical form, but are somewhat 
compressed (see PI. 3, fig. 1 r.) The molar teeth are also 
long, curved, and rootless; those of the upper jaw have the 
convex side of the curve on the inner side, whilst the molars 
of the lower jaw are reversed in tills respect. The true molars 
arc divided into two nearly equal parts by a fold of the enamel 
entering deeply into the body of the tooth on one side, and a 
slight indentation on the opposite side; in the molars of the 
upper jaw the deep indentation is on the inner side, but it 
is on the outer side of those of the lower jaw. The foremost 
1 T*” 5 er ™ r in tbc number of the teeth in Collins’ work arose probably from 
a misprint. I may here mention that a specimen, alluded to in the work just 
mentioned, and which was procured on Preservation Island, was sent by 
Governor Hunter to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, accompanied by a drawing and 
description, which latter haviug been transmitted to Bewick, were published 
by him in the sixth edition of his History of Quadrupeds. At the British 
Association Meeting, held at Newcastle. Mr. Gray called attention to the 
specimen in question, which still exists in the museum of the Natural History 
Society ot that town, and pointed out the identity of the so-called genera 
Amblotis and Pfiascolouiys. 
