(XI.b.) Figure 6.  Left ramus lower jaw, with last grinders.

(XI.c.) Figure 7.  Anterior part of the right ramus of lower jaw.

This species closely resembles Dasyurus ursinus, but differs in being one-third larger, and in having the canines, or laniaries, of proportionately larger size.

The position of the teeth in the specimen marked XI.c.  Figure 7, which are wider apart; leads me to doubt whether it is the lower jaw of Dasyurus laniarius, or of some extinct marsupial carnivore of an allied but distinct species.

GENERAL RESULTS OF PROFESSOR OWEN’S RESEARCHES.

The general results of the above examination are: 

1.  That the fossils are not referable to any known extra-Australian genus of mammals.

2.  That the fossils are not referable, from the present evidence, to any existing species of Australian mammal.

3.  That the greater number certainly belong to species either extinct or not yet discovered living in Australia.

4.  That the extinct species of Macropus, Dasyurus, Phascolomys, especially Macropus atlas and Macropus titan are larger than the largest known existing species.

5.  That the remains of the saltatory animals, as the Macropi, Halmaturi, and Hypsiprymni, are all of young individuals; while those of the burrowing Wombat, the climbing Phalanger, and the ambulatory Dasyure, are of adults.

I remain, dear Sir, etc.

(Signed) Richard Owen.

AGE OF THE BRECCIA CONSIDERED.

Nothing could be discovered in the present state of these caverns at all likely to throw any light on the history or age of the breccia, but the phenomena they present seem to indicate more than one change in the physical outline of the adjacent regions, and probably of more distant portions of Australia; at a period antecedent to the existing state of the country.

STATE OF THE CAVERNS.

Dry earth occurred in the floor of both the caverns at Wellington Valley and in the small chamber (Plate 28) of the breccia cave it was found, as before stated, beneath the three lines of stalagmite and the osseous breccia.  It seems probable therefore that this earth once filled the cave also to the same line, and that the stalagmite then extended over the floor of red earth.  Moreover I am of opinion that the interval between the stalagmite and the roof was partly occupied by the bone breccia of which portions remain attached to the roof and sides above the line of stalagmite.  It is difficult to conceive how the mass of red earth and stalagmitic floors could be displaced, except by a subsidence in the original floor of the cave.  But the present floor contains no vestiges of breccia fallen from the roof, nor any remains of the stalagmitic crust once adhering to the sides, which are both therefore probably deposited below the present floor.