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

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

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

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

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

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