Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2 / With Descriptions of the Recently Explored Region of Australia Felix, and of the Present Colony of New South Wales

by T. L. Mitchell

The position of the teeth in the specimen marked XI.c. Figure 7, which are wider apart; leads me to doubt whether it is the lower jaw of Dasyurus laniarius, or of some extinct marsupial carnivore of an allied but distinct species.

GENERAL RESULTS OF PROFESSOR OWEN'S RESEARCHES.

The general results of the above examination are:

1. That the fossils are not referable to any known extra-Australian genus of mammals.

2. That the fossils are not referable, from the present evidence, to any existing species of Australian mammal.

3. That the greater number certainly belong to species either extinct or not yet discovered living in Australia.

4. That the extinct species of Macropus, Dasyurus, Phascolomys, especially Macropus atlas and Macropus titan are larger than the largest known existing species.

5. That the remains of the saltatory animals, as the Macropi, Halmaturi, and Hypsiprymni, are all of young individuals; while those of the burrowing Wombat, the climbing Phalanger, and the ambulatory Dasyure, are of adults.

I remain, dear Sir, etc.

(Signed) Richard Owen.