Mammals.

(Recent species.)

The fauna of Australia is distinguished by a large number of Marsupial animals, which are now extinct in almost every other part of the world, and considered to be the oldest Mammals known. A few living species allied to our Dasyures still exist in America, and fossil remains were found in France and England which indicate the presence of Marsupials at a very early period when mammalian life was in its infancy; in fact the general belief is that the first Mammals belonged to the Marsupial or Pouched tribe. The isolated position of Australia may have caused these animals to retain their stronghold here much longer than in other countries; and it is almost certain that many of their predecessors were also Marsupials, equal in size to the Rhinoceros and the Hippopotamus.

The living species are of moderate growth, and the largest do not exceed two hundred pounds in weight.

They are divided in carnivorous or flesh-eating, and herbivorous or grass-eating sections, with a few genera of mixed feeders.

The most curious Australian animals are the duck-billed Platypus and the spiny Ant-eater; both are peculiar to this country. Marsupials are found in New Guinea, on some of the islands of the Pacific, and in America.

Of the Placental series the curious Water-rats or Beaver-rats must be mentioned, as being purely Australian. The dog was no doubt a very early introduction, because fossil remains were discovered contemporaneous with the great extinct Marsupials of post-pleiocene times. Of Man, we have but scanty evidence regarding the length of his existence here; in not one instance were weapons or implements obtained with the remains of fossil animals. Stone weapons are still used by many tribes, and the primitive art of splitting, grinding, and shaping various rocks into hatchets and spear-heads, is not yet lost.

The measurements of a series of Australian skulls is given at the head of the list, and some of these greatly resemble the ancient skulls found at the Neanderthal cave, and near Engis.

The Mammals are arranged as follows :—