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CHAP. XVII.] MAMMALIA. 249
rat-like animal discovered by Mr. Fraser in Ecuador, and which
may perhaps belong to another family.
Extinct Didelphyidce.—No less than seven species of Didelpliys
have been found in the caves of Brazil, but none in the older
formations. In North America the living species only, has been
found in Post-Pliocene deposits. In Europe, however, many
species of small opossums, now classed as a distinct genus, Pera-
therium, have been found in various Tertiary deposits from the
Upper Miocene to the Upper Eocene.
We have here a sufficient proof that the American Marsupials
have nothing to do with those of Australia, but were derived from
Europe, where their ancestors lived during a long series of ages.
Family 77.—DASYUPJD^. (10 Genera, 30 Species.)
Neotropical
Sub-regions.
Nearctic
Sob-regions.
General Distribution.
Pal^arctic
sub-hegions.
Ethiopian
Sdb-begion.s.
Oriental
Sub-regions.
Australian
Sub-regions.
1.2
The Dasyuridse, or native cats, are a group of carnivorous or
insectivorous marsupials, ranging from the size of a wolf to that
of a mouse. They are found all over Au"stralia and Tasmania,
as well as in New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan islands.
Several new genera and species have recently been described by
Mr. G. Krefft, of the Sydney Museum, and are included in the
following enumeration. PhasgogaU (3 sp.), New Guinea, West,
East, and South Australia; Antechinomys (1 sp.), Interior of
South Australia; Antcchinus (12 sp.), Aru Islands, all Aus-
tralia, and Tasmania ; CJicetocercus (1 sp.). South Australia
Dadylopsila (1 sp.), Aru Islands and North Australia ; Poddbrus
(5 sp.), West, East, and South Australia, and Tasmania ;
Myoictis
(1 sp.), Aru Islands ; Sarcopliilus (1 sp.), Tasmania ; Dasyurus (4
sp.). North, East, and South, Australia, and Tasmania ; Thyla-
cinus (1 sp.), Tasmania (Plate XL, vol. i. p. 439).
Extinct species of Dasyurus and Thylacinus have been found
in the Post-Pliocene deposits of Australia.
;