INTRODU CTION.
XIV
front of the orbit by the palatal vacuity, by the loose tympanic bone, by the
ron peat

i i of the brain, and
alisphenoid, by , and other

the lacrymal foramen in
anic bulla in the
, is 2 inches 3 lines in lo
in its smallness and position,

the very small relative size
nearly double the size of

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development of the tymp

i i neitudinal extent, or
«The carnassial tootl g

<

that in the placental

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characters.
esembles,

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that in the Lion. The upper tubercular tooth r

Felines. But in the lower jaw

there is a socket close to the
e dental series there, and have afforded an additional feature of resemblance
4 s€ x

-y small tubercular teeth, as in Plagi-

wi

d by two vel

the carnassial is succeede
lower jaw of Thylacoleo, which indicates that the

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qulax ; and symphysis of the
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canine may have terminated th

to the Plagiaulaw.”
1, the climate of a country which extends over more than 30 degrees of

Cape York and Arnheim’s Land are as near 11° south as possible, while

39°, and the southern part of Tasmania

As might naturally be expectec

latitude is very much diversified.
Wilson’s Promontory, in Victoria, reaches 441°, The parts of
Australia approaching the Tropic differ very considerably from its southern portions; for, lying more to the
north, the latter are under the influence of monsoons, and rains more or less regular occur in their proper
seasons. Speaking generally, however, Australia may be characterized as one of the driest and most heated
countries of our globe ; for, although an island in the strictest sense of the word, it is so extensive that the
surrounding seas have little influence upon the distant interior, which must still be regarded as a great sterile

waste, destitute of mountains sufficient to attract the moisture requisite to form navigable or other rivers. In
writing this in 1863, when travellers have crossed the country

at desert is here and there relieved by higher lands which will

and so many valuable discoveries have lately

been made, I am willing to admit that this gre

ultimately become useful to the enterprising settler, and that, in all probability, many fine and extensive oases

KEK

have yet to be brought to light 5 but, at the same time, I believe there will always be considerable uncertainty

in the seasons of the interior of this great land. In southern latitudes we know that this is the case, while

x

in the north a wet or a dry monsoon greatly alters the face of the country, and exerts a powerful influence

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on animal and vegetable life. Hence it is that the scanty fauna of this part of Australia is so organized that

it is able cist Wi Pate Be apts 3 Ske :
able to exist without water : the various species of Rodents, such as the members of the genera Mus and

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Hapalotis, and the W s, Lagorchestes 5 i ( |
i) , and the Wombats, Lagorchestes, and Bettongias, and other Kangaroos, are thus constituted; and

ey

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it wl P rec AG © = ee AEs : re =
it will be recollected that, when speaking of the Halcyons and other large Kingfishers in the ‘ Birds of

Australia,’ I state pe es ete ;
Australia,’ I stated that I believed they never partook of this element, their food consisting of lizards and

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insects, to which, in lik PAG . ,
, hich, in like manner, it was not essential. The Australian mammals must, however, be put to

severe straits occasi rom i
; asionally, not from the want, but from the superabundance of water,—a wet monsoon in the

7

north, and the heavy rains which occasion: |

es avy rains which occasionally occur in the south, deluging the basin-like surface of the inte-

rior and rendering it untenabl 121 hie

lering able, and obliging them to retire igher ri I
Peres degen ene ate mestorcilr sig to retire to the higher ridges until the drought, which
oe » has restored it to its normal condition. The districts, or countries as I may call them
which constitute the other portions i i sn cho
portions of Australia are very different, indeed completely opposite in character 5
I mean the rich lands which surround nearly tl hol an |
ar 1e whole of teri ‘entre. T i

y e of the sterile centre. The mountain-ranges, of no

very great elevatio i j ° e S S
Wf nat 1S tr WESOXeh i c >
which pouri 1 : ? t much influence upon th face of nature, constantly attracting rains
? "ne down their SI les € posi iC l 1 { e e | e. 1 :
10 ’ d eC it nial sh c ll i 5 ce)
5 a vial soil avourabl t 1 1
g t t oe : "10° t .
the most luxuriant vegetation The or Sts of ] S | : | an ; : ae ; o A
ce . f ce I alms which tl i 1
. s 1ey € occur are SCC ac a] y fe ‘| C S
COU Ys wie the stately Ne iV } I I a S of
d r lative Cedars a 1 S es
nd ‘1o-trees are w
the forest are scarcely ever to be fo 1 . | 1g trees are wonders to every traveller. ‘h 28 giants
) und in the interio ° ili y ] S S ‘
7 s Ole sterilit 1s U1] S ] 1
occur 1n company with th an chee th ] ? not suited to their existence 3 the y do not
\ e B k » the Ha t€@, or the Ci . ) S S i of
ASUATINE OS F whic : isti
» MO! t of W hich are characteristics land

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