4,528 research outputs found
Studies in Tasmanian mammals, living and extinct. No. XIV.The eared seals of Tasmania (Part 2)
H. H. Scott, Curator of the Launceston Museum, and Clive Lord, F.L.S., Director of the Tasmanian Museum.
As pointed out in our last paper. (1925,.P· 75), the Eared
Seals of the Australian coasts have been revised recently, by
Professor F. Wood-Jones, D.Sc., F.R.S. (1925, p. 9), who lists three species under the genus Arctocephalus, namely,:-
1. Arctocephalus cinereus, Peron.
2. Arctocephalus doriferus, Wood-Jones.
3. Arctocephalus forsteri, Lesson.
When listing the Tasmanian vertebrates a year or so
ago (Lord and. Scott, 1924, p. 307) we referred to the Fur Seal of Bass Straits as Euotaria cinerea, but whilst referring
to and accepting McCoy's data, we drew attention to the need
for further research. As a result of Professor Wood-Jones's visit to Tasmania
he was able to see certain of our collections, and also we are
indebted to him for an exchange of specimens.
Includes plates
Studies in Tasmanian mammals, living and extinct. No. XII. On certain Tasmanian Pleistocene marsupials.
These notes clear up an apparent contradiction between
the writings Qf Lydekker (1889) and De Vis (1884). They explain
the real size of the Giant Wombat in terms of Professor
Owen's original conception of its dimensions, and show why
later workei"s, upon such remains, were naturally misled
(Scott, 1915). They supply some data respecting the Nototherian
animal called Nototherium tasmanicum, and add
to our knowledge of the variation in the premolars of the
species N. mitchelli. The notes have been culled from two
separate "finds" recently made at the Mowbray Swamp, and
are directly associated with the nml).es of Mr. and Mrs. K.
M. Harrisson and Mr. E.W.Reeman.
From tooth marks found upon one bone we again stress
the former existence in Tasn1ania of powerful carnivorous
animals, but to date of writing this, their remains have not
been recovered
Tasmanian giant marsupials
H. H. Scott, Curator of Launceston Museum and Clive E Lord, F.L.S., Director of the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart.
In the years 1870 to 1884 Professor 0. C. Marsh created
a new Order for the reception of certain fossil mammalian
remains, which he designated (Marsh, 1884) Dinocerata. This
Order included the extinct creatures now called Titanotherium robustum and Tinoceras ingens, as well as others that need
not here detain us. The sifting processes of modern taxonoxny
have necessitated the removal of the two creatures named,
and their separation into distinct Sub-orders (of the Order
Ungulata). Sub-order Titanotheriidae, of which Titanotherium robustum
is typical, and Sub-order Amblypoda, which not only
contains Tinoceras ingens, but also the European extinct
ungulates known as Coryphodon and their American allies
Tasmanian Cycadophyta
These fossils came to us from the Launceston Tertiary
Basin formations at Harland's Rise, Evandale. I regard
them as being intercalates derived from the Mesozoic Strata,
but the evidence is not absolutely conclusive. All have
suffered exceedingly rough usage from natural forces, and
are completely pseudomorphed to iron oxide. The latter
fact is a depressing one, as it removes all chance of microscopical
details being available for determinative purposes.
The material at hand is not restricted to a few stems, and
other fragments of the apical outgrowths, but the really
goDd specimens are in the minority, and no single specimen
is complete enough to serve the desideratum of description,
or as a holotype for taxonomic purposes.
In the hope that some histological details had escaped
the mutations of time and circumstance an enormous
amount of microscopical work was done on selected fragments,
and a set of the clays, sandstones, and ferric concretions
was passed in optical review. This work, although
abortive as to the main object, supplied much data respecting
the effect of ferric infiltration into the organic bodies, and
the range of external concretion. The personal standard
thus acquired proved of inestimable value during the course
of the work, and helped me over many of the difficulties incidental
to the highly pseudomorphed condition of the fossils.
The macroscopic outlines of all woody structures are well
preserved, but the finer miaoscopical details are only now
and again glimpsed, and could not be photographicaHy reproduced.
These are Museum specimens for which I desire the
scientific status essential for exhibition pur,poses, and
failing aid from palaeobotanists, I am placing them on record
for the object named, and without any desire to poach upon
the preserves of other scientific workers
A note on the King Island emu.
The present note is to be regarded as being strictly
additional to the published data of Spencer and Kershaw
(1910). To recapitulate, it may be said that the authors
quoted describe Dromaeus minor in the following terms: "Size varying considerably, but always smaller than that of D. novae-hollandiae ; not exceeding that of D. peroni, but of more robust build. Tibio-tarsus rarely exceeding 330 mm., most usually from 270-320 mm., in greatest length. Tarso-metatarsus rarely exceeding 280 mm., most usually from 220-280 mm. in greatest length. Frontal region of skull dome-shaped. Length of skull from frontal suture to occiput not, or only slightly, exceeding 60 mm. Greatest width of the skull not, or only slightly, exceeding 55 mm. Habitat: King Island, Bass Strait. Now extinct."
The range of measurements here given is wide, and it must be noticed that the exact ratio between the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus of any single bird is not stated. As a matter of fact, I happen to know that the material Spencer and Kershaw worked upon did not contain any three leg bones that were beyond all question associates — neither did they hold any two that they could be certain were parts of a single bird. In these circumstances the notes I am here putting upon record should be welcome ones, as they detail the osteology of various bones, found buried in actual position,and beyond all doubt parts of a single individual Em
The extinct Tasmanian emu
In a former communication to this Society, which was
read on 8th October, 1923, dealing in part with the extinct
King Island Emu, I gave, inter alia, some notes upon such
Tasmanian Emu b:mes as had been to that date added b
our Museum Collection.
Since then two other finds have reached us, and will now
be passed in review.
THE SMITHTON FIND.
From an old contributor to our palreontological series of
vertebrate remains-Mr. Tom Edwards-there came to us
in October, 1924, a synsacrum, 1 femur, 1 tibia-tarsus, 2
tarsc-metatarsi, and 1 cervical vertebra of a Tasmanian
Emu recovered from Mowbray Swamp. These were all
associated bones absolutely mature, using the word in its true
osteological sense-as applica'ble only to bones whose external
texture manifest the highest muscular development and the
super-ossification incidental thereto. Everything considered,
and having due reference to published notes, I consider this
bird to have been a female
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