461 
TH V LACIN US. 
large and deep concavity into which the apex of tlie canine 
of the lower jaw is lodged when the jaws are closed 1 . The 
premolar teeth present a triangular outline when viewed from 
the outer or inner side, and have a small posterior basal 
cusp: the two foremost of the upper premolars are separated 
from each other, or from the canine; the third upper pre- 
molar is in contact with the true molars; but in the lower 
jaw all the premolars are isolated. The crowns of the three 
foremost upper true molars are in the form of a right-angled 
triangle, of which one of the sides is about one-fourth shorter 
than the others ; this short side is in front. Viewed from the 
outer side, these molars present a large central cusp, and two 
smaller and much less elevated cusps, placed one behind, 
and the other in front of the principal cusp: the foremost cusp 
is separated by a distinct transverse notch from die body of 
the tooth. The inner lobe of the tooth is but little elevated. 
The hindermost true molar is nearly of the same structure as 
the others, but of smaller size, and so placed that its greatest 
diameter is in the opposite direction to the long diameter of 
the other molars. The true molars of the lower jaw have the 
crown divided by transverse incisions into three cusps, of 
which the central one is the largest, pointed, and much 
elevated. 
But one recent species of this genus is known, and that 
is confined to Van Diemen’s Land ; but amongst the fossil 
remains found in the caves in Wellington Valley already 
alluded to, Prof. Owen hns detected some portions of lower 
jaws, which he regards as belonging to a species of Thy la- 
cinus . An anterior extremity of one of these fossils is 
figured in Sir T. Mitchells Australia (vol. ii. pi. 31 , fig. <). 
and other portions subsequently sent to England are de- 
1 The Dasyuri all present this character, which is not found in the ordinary 
Carnivora ,■ in those animals the lower canine passes on the outer side of the 
upper jaw, when the mouth is closed. 
