ra m LOCKED CASE T i i i<; LONDON. HENRY 0. BOHN. YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. ^ " 2V f ^5 THE NATUEALIST'S LIBEAEY. EDITED BY SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART., P.B.S.E., P.L.S., ETC., ETC. VOL. XXIV. MAMMALIA. MARSUPIALIA, OR POUCHED ANIMALS. BY G. B. WATBRHOUSE, ESQ., CT7BA.TOB TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDOH". (UNIVERSITY EDINBURGH : W. H. LIZARS, 3, ST. JAMES' SQUARE. LONDON : HENRY G. BOHN, YORK ST., COVENT GARDEN. BIOLOGY LIBRARY G t ONTENTS. PA.99 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY, M.D., .... 17 INTRODUCTION, 45 THE OPOSSUMS, 75 DIDELPHID^E, ib. Virginian Opossum, ..... .79 A zard's Opossum. Plate I. . . . . • 83 Crab-eating Opossum, . 85 Californian Opossum, . 87 Short-headed Opossum, .... 88 Quica Opossum, ...... ,90 Surinam Opossum, . . .... 92 Naked-tailed Opossum. Plate II 94 Lord Derby's Opossum. Plate II.* .... 97 Woolly Opossum, 98 Thick-tailed Opossum, 100 Philander Opossum, .102 Cinereous Opossum, 10i Merian's Opossum, . . . • • • • 104 M urine Opossum, . . . • . .10* Elegant Opossum, . . . . . . . 106 Three-striped Opossum. Plate III. ... 107 Tricolored Opossum, . . . . . . . 109 Short-tailed Opossum, 1W Didelphys Pusilla, 112 The Yapock Opossum. Plate IV ib. CONTENTS. THE DASTURES, 117 DASYURIDJS, ib. The TJtylacinus. Plate V 123 Ursine Dasyurus, . . . . . . . 128 Spotted-tailed Dasyurus. Plate VI 130 Geoffrotfs Dasyurus, 132 Manges Dasyurus. Plate VII. . . . .133 Dasyurus Maugei, Black Variety f . . . 1 3.5 Brush-tailed Phascogale. Plate VIII. . . . 136 Yellow-footed Phascogale. Plate IX. ... 138 Geoff roy^s Phascogale, 140 Murine Phascogale. Plate X 143 MYRMECOBIUS, 144 Banded Myrmecobius. Plate XI 14,5 Red Myrmecobius, 149 FAMILY PERAMELID^:, 150 PERAMELES, ib. Rabbit-eared Perameles. Plate XII 1.53 Long-nosed Perameles. Plate XIII 155 Gunn's Perameles. Plate XV 156 Short-nosed Perameles. Plate XIV i59 New Guinea Perameles, 161 Bougainville's Perameles, 162 Choeropus ecaudatus, . . . . . 163 THE KANGAROOS, 165 MACROPODIDJS, ib. Genus HYPSIPRYMNUS, .... .174 Rat-tailed Hypisprymnus. Plate XVI. . . . 175 Small-footed Hipsiprymnus, . . . . . 180 White's Hypsiprymnus, . . . . . . 181 Brush-tailed Hypsiprymnus. Plate XVII. . . . 1 83 Ogtfby's Hypsiprymnus, .... 1 85 Babbit-like Hypsiprymnus, . 186 Busty Hypsiprymnus, ,188 Gray's Hypsiprymnus, . . , . . . . 190 CONTENTS. Genus MACROPUS, .191 Macropus proper. (Section, or Subgenus 1,) . . ib. Great Kangaroo, 192 Woolly, or Red Kangaroo, 198 Sooty Kangaroo, 200 Nail-bearing Kangaroo, 201 Bridled Kangaroo, • 202 Crescent marked Kangaroo, ..... 203 Hare-like Kangaroo, ....... 204 Halmaturus. (Subgenus 2,) ..... 205 Parry' a Kangaroo. Plate XVIII 206 Elegant Kangaroo, ....... 209 Bennett1 s Kangaroo. Plate XIX 211 White Kangaroo, . . . . . . . 214 Red-necked Kangaroo, 216 Rusty -grey Kangaroo, * . . . . . 217 A roe Kangaroo. Plate XX 219 Macropus Irma, 222 Black-footed Kangaroo, 223 Filander Kangaroo, . . . . . . . 225 Red-bellied Kangaroo, 227 Macropus dorsalis, 230 Eugene Island Kangaroo, ...... 232 Lord Derby's Kangaroo. Plate XXI. . . . 234 Short-tailed Kangaroo, 236 Banded Kangaroo, ....... 237 Petrogale, Heteropus. (Subgenus 3,) ... 240 Strong-limbed Kangaroo, . . . . . . 24 1 Brush-tailed Kangaroo. Plate XXII. ... 243 Heteropus albogularis, ....... 246 Short-eared Rock Kangaroo, ..... 247 PHALANGISTIDJE, 249 Cuscus. (Section, or Subgenus 1,) . . . 259 Ursine Phalanger. Vignette, Title Page, . . ib. Yellow '-rumped Phalanger, . . . . . 261 Spotted Phalanger, 262 Hollow-fronted Phalanger, ... ... 263 Phalangista proper. (Section 2,) .... 264 Vulpine Phalanger. Plate XXI II 265 CONTENTS. PAGE Pltalangista fuliginosa, ...... 267 Cuvier's Phalanger, ....... 268 Yellow-footed Phalanger, 269 Canine Phalanger, . . . . . . . 271 Pseudocheirus. (Section 3,) . . . . • 273 Cook's Phalanger. Plate XXV 274 Viverrine Phalanger. Plate XXIV 277 Pigmy Phalanger. Plate XXVI 279 Genus PETAURUS, 282 Petaurus proper. (Subgenus 1,} . . . . ib. Taguan Petaurus, or Flying Opossum. Plate XXVI.L Perorfs Petaurus, Belideus. (Subgenus 2,) 286 Yellow-Bellied Petaurus, . ... ib. Long-tailed Petaurus, 288 Squirrel-like Petaurus. Plate XX VII I. ... 289 Short-leaded Petaurus. Plate XXIX. ... 290 Acrobata. (Subgenus 3,) 293 Pigmy Petaurus. Plate XXX ib. Genus PHASCOLARCTOS, 294 Koala. Plate XXXI .295 Genus PHASCOLMYS, . 298 Wombat. Plate XXXII 300 The Echidna. Plate XXXIII. ... 303 The Ornithorhynchus. Plate XXXIV. . 309 Portrait of Barclay, 2 In all Thirty-Seven Plates in this Volume. MEMOIR OF JOHN BAECLAY, M.D. MEMOIR JOHN BARCLAY, M.D. IN the whole circle of biography, there is, perhaps, no memoir so pregnant with beneficial instruction, as that of an individual who, without any of the wild impulses, or as they are styled, " corruscations of genius," or without any fortuitous incident or ad- venture, raises himself by his own industry — by a patient persevering cultivation of substantial natural talents — to an eminent situation in society, and maintains till the close of life the eminence that he has reached. There is generally connected with that elevation a moral worth, which gives a grandeur and stability to the character that nought else can possibly bestow. Such, in an eminent degree, will be found to have characterised the life of JOHN BARCLAY. He owed little to fortune, — much, if not all, to the persevering application of his powers in a profession, the object of his choice, and the end of his ambition. He was born on 10th December 1758. His father then ten- 18 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. anted the farm of Cairn, near Drummaquhance in Perthshire/ whence he removed to Strageath, a farm on the property of Lord Gwydyr, in the parish of Muthil, in the same county. His son, the subject of this Memoir, received the rudiments of his education at the parish school, at that time conducted by a Mr. Thomson, who is said to have been an excellent classical scholar. From this seminary he went to the University of St. Andrews; and was entered a student at the Old College, upon one of the foundation bur- saries, which he obtained after a spirited competition standing first on the list of four successful candidates. . Without the aid of any teacher, it is said, he ac- quired such a knowledge of the Hebrew language, as enabled him to read and understand the whole of the Old Testament ; which, however, he might more easily be enabled to do, as some of the simplest methods for attaining that object had already been adopted. Parkhurst had published (1762) his Hebrew and English Lexicon, to which was affixed a methodical Hebrew grammar without points, adapted to the use of learners, and which disencumbered the sacred language from some of its most intricate difficulties ; besides, Dr. Wilson, whose grammar is upon the same principle — published in 1782 — was professor * He was brother of John Barclay, the Berean minister in Edinburgh, and founder of that sect, a person well known for his eccentricities, whose sacred poems, though now neglected, are by no means despicable compositions ; only, his para- phrase of the song of Solomon used to be thought more amus- ing than edifying. MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 19 of Hebrew in the University when young Barclay entered it; and I cannot think an inquiring mind like his, would he either unnoticed or unassisted by so kind and benevolent a teacher as I have always understood that excellent professor to have been. A delightful anecdote of young Barclay, in re- ference to this period, is preserved by Sir George Ballingall, which I use the liberty of copying in his own words. " Having set out upon a visit to his relations in Perthshire, during the Christmas holidays, he was benighted and overtaken by a storm, at the small village of Lindores, near Newburgh in Fife. Here he sought shelter in the house of a poor man of the name of Wilson, who, with his wife, received our traveller at first with some degree of suspicion ; but, being overcome with his frankness and affability, soon became more kindly disposed, and treated him with all the hospitality which their little cottage afforded. The writer had the pleasure, at the distance of nearly thirty years afterwards, of accompanying the doctor in search of his benefactors, and of witnessing the very gratifying recognition on both sides, — the doctor giving them substantial proofs of his recollection of their kind- ness." * Barclay's views had hitherto been directed to the Church ; and accordingly, after having finished his studies at the University, and gone through the usual course of trial, he was licensed as a "proba- * In his life of Dr. Barclay, prefixed to his Introductory Lectures to a course of Anatomy, &c. Edinburgh, 1827. 20 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. tioner" by the presbytery of Dunkeld. Although his natural taste led him eventually to prefer the study of Medicine, he always through life maintained the highest respect and regard both for the services and the members of the sacred ministry ; and even after he had fully directed his attention to the study of Anatomy, he occasionally assisted his clerical friends, being wont to preach for the late Dr. Hardy, professor of Church History in the University of Edinburgh, and Mr. Grant of Libberton ; nor did he give up his attention to clerical matters even after he began to lecture upon Anatomy, having been several times a member of the General Assembly, in whose proceedings he took great interest, although he never exhibited among the orators of that venerable court. Soon after he received his licence, he was engaged by Charles Campbell, Esq. of Loch Dochart, as a tutor in his family ; and while there, having consider- able leisure, he gave way to the bent of his genius, and prosecuted with avidity his researches in Natural History. These he continued with peculiar advan- tage, when he afterwards became an inmate in the family of the late Sir James Campbell of Aberuchill, to whose sons, William and Frederick, he became tutor in Edinburgh, at the commencement of the Winter Session 1789. Relieved from all care about temporal support, and giving up every idea of Church preferment, the study of anatomy, almost entirely absorbed his inde- fatigable mind. About this time he enjoyed an essen- tial advantage in being admitted assistant to the cele MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 21 brated Mr. John Bell, and under his direction, with that of his brother Charles, (now Sir Charles Bell), he incessantly applied himself to his favourite pur- suits. It must have been about this time that, during the severe illness of John Bell, young Barclay, in the spirit of true and disinterested anxiety to render him- self useful, offered his services as assistant to his talented preceptor, to keep up the lectures till his health was restored. His offer was refused, with what Barclay attributed to disdain and contempt, which, however galling, was greatly the means of his future eminence ; for he instantly communicated the circumstance to his patron, Sir James Campbell, who advanced him the pecuniary assistance required for the completion of those studies which, with his indomitable perseverance and talents, were the means of his outstripping not only his accomplished master, but all competitors in the science of anatomy in Edinburgh. We had this detail from his own lips, and to his credit the sum required was exceedingly small, though of his own naming to Sir James ; and we rather think the Doctor never required farther aid during life. In 1796, he obtained from the University of Edinburgh his degree of M.D. His Thesis, " De Anima seu Principle Vitali" received the approba- tion of the late Dr. Gregory, one of the most distin- guished classical scholars of his day, — to whom, along with Mr. John Bell, it was dedicated, — both for its elegant Latinity and its ingenious development of the 22 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY, subject discussed — a subject which not only at this early period, but through life, appears to have attract- ed a particular share of his attention. Having graduated, he did not consider himself as exempted from the necessity of further instruction, but rather, stimulated by the progress he had made, gathered fresh energy for renovated exertion. He therefore immediately repaired to London, and put himself under the tuition of Dr. Marshall of Thavies Inn, an eminent anatomical teacher in that city, from whose instructions he always gratefully ac- knowledged that he had reaped much advantage, and under whose inspection he formed the rudiments of his Museum, which afterwards proved so great an attraction to his class. His stay in London, however, was not very pro- tracted, for he returned to Edinburgh in 1797; and in November of that year commenced his career as a Lecturer on the science he had so thoroughly studied. His first class-room was a small apartment in the High School-yards, which he was enabled to fit up by the kind assistance of his excellent and steady friend Sir James Campbell. At the outset, his pupils were few, and he had most formidable ob- stacles to encounter. Dr. Monro, secundus, then filled the Anatomical Chair in the University, with the highest reputation ; and his able assistant, Mr. Fyfe, gave a second or evening course upon the same subject. Mr. John Bell, likewise, his former mas- ter, was then in the full career of professional fame, yet the Doctor felt nothing appalled, but, conscious MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 23 of his own strength, went steadily forward, cheered and encouraged by the regular if not rapid increase of his class ; nor was it very long till he reaped the reward of his assiduous perseverance. He generally gave two courses, one in the morning and another in the evening, every winter, commencing early in No- vember and concluding in the latter end of April. During the summer months, for several years be- fore his death, he also delivered a course of lectures on Comparative Anatomy, — a branch of science which he delighted to cultivate, not only as an ob- ject of curious research, but of real practical utility, and a branch of liberal education of high importance to men of various professional descriptions — to all be- longing to the medical profession, whether surgeons or physicians — to all naturalists, whose taste may incline them to the study of Zoology — to all who are concerned in the health and preservation of valuable animals — to the lawyer who attends to the nature of evidence in criminal trials — to the moralist and logi- cian, who view the faculties of the mind in the ab- stract, without reflecting upon the powerful re-action of the organs by which it operates, and by which it is often operated upon — to the physico-theologist, who is anxious to witness the strongest proofs that are furnished by the works of nature of the exist- ence and power of the Deity, of his omniscience, his omnipresence, his varied operations, and his uni- versal superintendence — and lastly, to the inquisitive geologist, who delights in tracing the great physical revolutions of the globe, by studying the fossil re- 24 MEMOIR Ofr JOHN BARCLAY. mains of animals, that at one time had been its in- habitants, when it presented a different aspect and had different climates from what it has now. " It was by comparative anatomy," he was wont to ob- serve, " that Harvey made his immortal discovery of the circulation of the blood, and Asellius exhibited the existence of the lacteai vessels ; and to the dis- section of a frog we owe the discovery of the Gal- vanic fluid," and the publisher of this Work, when a boy attending the High School of Edinburgh, has often carried frogs to the Doctor, for the purpose of the varied experiments with which he was then en- gaged. Comparative anatomy also points out many rela- tions that subsist between the varieties of function and organs — between the varieties of organs and in- stincts, and between the instincts and external cir- cumstances. It points out many relations between the form and habits of species, between the different organs of sense and the objects that invite jor threaten them from without ; between certain appearances in the brain and the rapid or slow development of the instincts; between the organs of defence and attack, and the corresponding dispositions ; and between the ratio of the volume of brain, compared with that of the spinal marrow, and the natural sagacity common to the species. While, on the other hand, to prevent our ascribing too much to the organs, and supposing that the in- stincts, the habits, and characters of animals are, in all cases, to be regulated by them, it furnishes us MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 25 with instances, numerous and diversified, where similar functions are connected with quite different jrgans, and similar organs with different functions, from which he naturally deduces the fallacy of phrenological theories. " Those who tell us/' he observes, * " that every prominent feature of our character is indicated hy some variety of the skull, arising from modifications of the brain, seem neither to reflect on the powerful operation of moral causes nor on that powerful re- action of organs that so fre- quently disturbs the functions of the brain, and, when long continued, soon alters its structure. When physiology is better understood, few will be deceived by such theories and fancies;" and he adds, with that indignant scorn with which he always treated the slightest approach to infidelity, " It will be found equally hostile to the too easy credulity of ignorance, the dogmas of error, and the overweening conceit of the sceptic, who, with an intolerable degree of bigotry, frequently talks of established laws, as if all the various secrets of nature were unfolded to him, and he were the confidant of the Sovereign of the Universe." Connected with comparative anatomy, the Doctor devoted considerable attention to Veterinary medi- cine, and to his exertions, we are informed, the pub- lic is chiefly indebted for the establishment of the Veterinary School, conducted by one of his pupils, Professor Dick, under the especial patronage of the Highland Society of Scotland, of which Barclay was i distinguished member. * Introductory Lectures, page 168. 20 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. The first thing that struck a pupil, in the Doc- tor's lectures, was the " lucidus ordo," the clear ar- rangement of his subject, which at once carried con- viction to the hearer that he not only perfectly under- stood what he had undertaken to teach, hut under- stood also the best method of communicating to others what he knew himself. His illustrations were clear and copious, and not unfrequently an ap- posite anecdote fixed more strongly on the memories of his hearers the particular part which he was demon- strating ; and, at a time when it was by no means fashionable, he never omitted to point out the wis- dom of God as displayed in that most wonderful of all his works — the formation and support of the human body. Assiduously attentive to his laborious duties as a teacher, the Doctor, nevertheless, found time to con- tribute liberally to his professional literature. His first performance was the article Physiology, in the third edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which gave high promise as a scientific treatise, and which his next publication (1803) " A new Anatomical Nomen- clature," did not belie. He had perceived the im- mense advantages that flowed from the new Chemi- cal Nomenclature, which tended more than almost any thing else to facilitate the knowledge and acce- lerate the progress of that science, and he was anxi- ous to supply some such improvement in anatomy, by substituting precise significant terms in place of the vague, capricious Babel-language then and still too much in use. The ability with which the MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 27 task was executed is now generally acknowledged, though the nomenclature be not yet universally adopted. Perhaps, however, wrhen death has re- moved every prejudiced feeling which obstructed its reception, it may find that place in our medical schools which its worth and importance merits. His own opinion of this performance is expressed with modesty in the introduction, where he dis- claims for it all pretensions to any equality of rank with the labours of the French chemist. " This nomenclature is not to be compared with that of Lavoisier ; it establishes no era in science ; it an- nounces no great revolution, nor is it formed with a view to perpetuate any illustrious discoveries. To compare a small thing with a great, it bears a much nearer resemblance to the classification and arrange- ments of Linnaeus."* Yet have the works of the Swede greatly facilitated the improvement of every branch of Natural History. Nor can there, perhaps, be a greater service rendered to any science than to define and fix accurately the terms employed in its development, as this tends, in no small degree, to facilitate the progress of study, by removing the lite- rary rubbish of a cumbrous and obscure verbiage, which obstructs, if it does not altogether block up, the avenues of knowledge. Being now established in public estimation as a successful teacher and an able medical writer, the Royal College of Surgeons gave him the highest * Introduct. to a new Anatomical Nomenclature, p. 45. 28 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. testimony in their power; for in the year 180*, that learned body resolved unanimously, " That the attendance of candidates for diplomas and certi- ficates, on Dr. Barclay's Lectures on Anatomy and Surgery, shall be held as equivalent to the attend- ance on the Lectures of Members of the Colleges of Physicians or Surgeons of London, Dublin, or Edin- burgh,, or of any other respectable college, on the same subjects." During a few years that followed, Dr. Barclay's life was one continued progress in scientific acquirement ; but the silent and arduous labours of the mind admit not of any narration, unless that mind have recorded its own exertions either in private memoranda or public works. Of the former, I know not whether the Doctor left any memorial. We can only therefore speak from the apparent re- sults; and the increasing estimation in which his prelections were held both at home and abroad, and the nourishing state of his class, bore strong testi- mony to his own individual improvement; for no man can go on improving others who does not im- prove himself. In 1805, Dr. Barclay became asso- ciated with the Royal College of Physicians as a licentiate; and in November next year, he was admit- ted as a resident fellow of the same body. In 1808, he published his treatise on the ff Muscular Motions of the Human Body/' This treatise was chiefly designed to extend a knowledge of the animal func- tions; and through that medium, so far as the muscular functions are concerned, to improve the science of physic and surgery. He accordingly MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 29 described the muscles according to regions, arranging those peculiarly belonging to the osseous structure, according to the bones to which they are attached ; and the whole belonging to the system, according to the motions in which they co-operate, — thus exhibiting the muscles likely to be supplied with the same branches of arteries and nerves, what parts of the osseous structure are connected by muscles, and what muscles co-operate, and how they co-operate in performing their functions ; and deducing from the whole, the nature and causes of a number of sympathies that arise from attachment, situation, and function, with a view to provide a safe and expeditious remedy, especially in cases of laxa- tion and fracture, by pointing out the motions best calculated to favour the reduction, and those fitted to assist or oppose the operation; what are the positions best suited to preserve the ease and security of the parts; and what the motions, attitudes, and muscles, most likely to disturb them ; and thus to free the patient from that torture, so frequently inflicted by empirics, bone-setters, and those un- acquainted with the compound actions of the muscles. It may not be altogether out of place here to mention that Barclay's love of natural investigations prompted him to be ever foremost in all the dissec- tions of all the animals which by chance came in his way, in and around the Scottish metropolis. At one of these we happened to be present. It was that of a Beluga or White Whale, an account of which we believe is to be found in the Wernerian Nat. 30 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. Hist. Soc. Memoirs. Never shall we forget the enthusiasm of the Doctor, wading to his knees amongst the viscera of the great tenant of the deep, alternately cutting away with his large and dexterous knife, and regaling his nostrils with copious infu- sions of snuff, while he pointed out, in his usual felicitous manner, the various contrasts or agreements of the forms of the viscera with those of other animals and of man. At length, 1811, the Doctor had the felicity of being united to the object of his long and ardent at- tachment, Miss Eleanora Campbell, daughter of Sir James Campbell of Aberuchill. Their mutual esteem and affection had been cherished by a thorough ac- quaintance with each other during a residence of many years under the same roof; and in the society of this lady he enjoyed till his death, in an eminent degree, Domestic happiness, the only bliss Of Paradise that has survived the fall ! About this period a number of the students had intended to present him with a piece of plate ; but with his characteristic attention to the feelings of his class, some of whom could, and some of whom could not afford to subscribe, though equally willing to honour their teacher, he disapproved of the proposal so soon as he heard of it, and felt more gratified by an affectionate address which was substituted in its stead. The following is the correspondence which took place upon that occasion — honourable at once fo the pupils and their teacher. JUEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 31 COPY — LETTER BY DR. BARCLAY'S STUDENTS — CLASS 1810-1811 — ON THE SUBJECT OF A PIECE OF PLATE, PROPOSED TO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO HIM. SIR, The Pupils of your Class, impressed with a sense of their obligations to the zeal and ability with which you have always directed their anatomical studies, had been anxious to testify their feelings, by some public mark of their gratitude and respect. With this view, it was suggested, and unanimously resolv- ed, that a Piece of Plate should be presented to you in their name. The injudicious and unauthorized interference of some anonymous individual, however, by a prema- ture disclosure of their design, drew from you a pub- lic and explicit disapprobation of this measure. Ke- specting, while they cannot help regretting, the mo- tives which led you to reject their proposal, they have reluctantly deferred to your feelings and wishes on this subject. They cannot allow themselves, how- ever, to separate as a body, without conveying to you, in another, and they trust a more unexception- able form, the feelings which induced them to make the original proposal. They are far from presuming to think that their humble praise is either an adequate reward for your past, or a sufficient incitement to your future labours. They are convinced, that the love of science, and a desire to benefit others, operate on a generous mind far more powerfully than the ambition of praise, 32 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. especially of such praise as they are qualified to be- stow. Leaving to more competent judges, and to poste- rity, to decide how much you have benefited the medical world by your writings, they claim to them- selves the honour of being able in some degree to appreciate that various and accurate knowledge, which brings the light of different sciences to the elucidation of one; that extensive learning which conducts you to the origin of names and opinions, through all the changes of language and systems ; and that manly philosophy, which in an age not cer- tainly distinguished for its piety, uniformly prompts you to impress upon the youthful mind the final cause of the phenomena which you disclose. Carrying with them into professional life, along with the benefit which they cannot but derive from your judicious and able tuition, a grateful sense of what they owe to you, they join in ardent wishes that you may long continue, by your name, your writings, and public instructions, to support and adorn the Medical School of Scotland ; and, in the gratitude, the respectability, and usefulness of your numerous pupils, enjoy that reward of your labours, which is ever the most grateful to a generous mind. Signed in name and by authority of the Class, by WILLIAM RAE WILSON, President. ALEX. CAMPBELL, Secretary. Edinburgh, Feby. Uth, 1811. To DR. JOHN BARCLAY, Ar-vlf. Souare. MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. S3 COPY — DR. BARCLAY'S ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING LETTER. GENTLEMEN, I have had the honour of receiving your address, and have perused it with emotions of gratitude I can hardly describe. If your approbation, which I highly value, does not incite me to farther exertions, it shall never, be assured, have any tendency to make me less zealous than I hitherto have been in the plea- sant discharge of every duty which I owe you. On receiving occasionally anonymous hints that little more of anatomy was necessary than what might enable the student to obtain a diploma or license, I have often looked forward and tried to imagine the melancholy picture which medicine would present in a few years, if these sordid and groveling ideas were to be generally encouraged by the teachers. I thank God that, through the me- dium of those sentiments which you have expressed, I can see many pupils who are far above those mean and unworthy considerations, and who, looking on physic and surgery not as trades but as liberal pro- fessions, are preparing to adorn them by their manly sense and superior acquirements. I am also particularly gratified to learn that you feel a pleasure in contemplating those works of un- paralleled design aud consummate foresight that are everywhere displayed in the admirable mechanism of the human body. The genuine impressions of £4 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. religion and morality to which these observations may lead, must strongly recommend you to the con- fidence of those who, requiring your aid as profes- sional men, must often entrust you with the secrets of families, and he forced to rely not more on your skill than on your integrity. When you wish me to enjoy those pleasant reflec- tions that arise from the usefulness and respectability of my pupils, you wish me indeed that kind of re- ward of which I feel that my heart would be proud ; a reward, Gentlemen, of which, if I rightly be able to judge, I naturally may expect no small share from you who have honoured me with this address.- — I am, GENTLEMEN, With esteem and gratitude, Your very sincere friend, (Signed) JOHN BARCLAY. Perhaps no teacher was ever more generally be- loved by his pupils than Dr. Barclay, to which his uniform kindness and affability, and readiness to promote their interest upon every occasion, materially contributed. " Besides, he gave," says Sir George Ballingall, who had good opportunities of knowing, " many young men gratuitous admission to his own lectures, and has even been known to furnish them with the means of feeing other teachers." Next year, 1812, appeared his " Description of the Arteries of the Human Body," a work of vast labour MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 35 and close observation, which Sir George Ballingall considers the most practically useful of all his writings. The generality of anatomical writers since Haller, who had treated of the arteries, having usually sub- stituted the description of some common variety for the description of the general character, he wished to supply the deficiency, or rather to rectify the mis- take ; and from various preparations, and the de- scriptions of different authors, proposed to ascertain the general range allowed to each of the larger arteries, as to their origin, their ramification, and extent of distribution. In order to render his descriptions more precise, although he proposed to take but few liberties with the names of the arteries, yet on purpose to accommo- date his language to the immortal discovery of Harvey, he used the names proposed in his own nomenclature. As there are two principal trunks of the arteries, I. The Pulmonary, so named from being ramified through the pulmones or lungs, commencing at the right ventricle, and carrying blood of a dark colour, which, on being exposed to the action of the air in its passage through the lungs, assumes a florid red colour ; and II. The Aorta, which transmits the red blood through the medium of its branches to the system at large ; he proposed for the one to sub- stitute the term pulmonic, and for the other systemic artery ; and consequently the blood which flowed through each to be similarly designated : — pulmonic and systemic blood. The appearances of the arteries vhich he described as general facts or as common to 36 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. the species, were those which he had found, with a few exceptions, in all the individuals he had examined, or had learned from the writings of the most eminent Anatomists, Eustachius, Winslow, Haller, Sahatier, Murray, Soemmering, and others. The exceptions from these general appearances, were such as he had himself observed, or had been collected by his friend Mr. Allan Burns of Glasgow. For some time before his death his health had begun to decline; and he was in consequence, and by the advice of his friends, induced to enter into partnership, 1825, with Dr. Robert Knox, at that time Conservator of the Museum of the Royal Col- lege of Surgeons, who succeeded him as lecturer on Human and Comparative Anatomy. He did not, however, relax in his scientific labours, and com- pleted not long before his death, e< An Inquiry into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, concerning Life and Organization," — a publication which displays an intimate acquaintance with the works of ancient and modern times that bear upon his subject, and be- trays no symptoms of failure in his natural acute- ness. The origin and design of this work, he tells us, was to direct young men entering on the study of anatomy in their speculations upon the causes of organisation. On deliberately examining an animal structure in connection with its functions, reflecting on its singular and astonishing mechanism, how food and drink are converted into blood, and blood into a diversity of organs, by chemical processes MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 37 different in kind, and differently conducted from any that are known, what are we to think ? Can such a mechanism he the cause of feeling, reasoning, and reflection ? — or can chemical affinity, without a che- mist of uncommon resources and of extraordinary art and intelligence, produce such a structure ? Some think that they may, and others think not. This dif- ference of opinion was what suggested the Inquiry, — the ohject of which is to collect and state the argu- ments on hoth sides, to examine the legitimacy and force of these arguments as they occur, and after the Inquirer has given his opinion, to leave the reader to judge for himself. The work consists of four parts; — 1st, An account of the philosophical and popular opinions entertained hy the ancients con- cerning the nature and the variety of animating causes, and an account of the principal arguments which they employed to prove that these causes originate in matter. 2d, A definition of the terms employed in discussions concerning life and organisation, such as : — nature, the elements, forms and qualities, chance, fate, necessity, and matter, &c. 3d, An account of the opinions entertained hy those modern physiologists who are either disposed to ascribe the whole phenomena of life, or at least organisation, sensation, and instinct, to the powers of mechanism and the effects of chemical affinities, — Paracelsus, Darwin, Leibnitz, Priestley, Buffon, Cuvier, and a number of others. And, 4>th, An account of the opinions of some distinguished ancients and moderns who have ascribed organisation and all the other vital 38 MEMOIR OP JOHN BARCLAY. phenomena to an internal animating principle,— Aristotle, Harvey, Willis, Hunter, and Abernethy, &c. In summing up the whole arguments, the Doctor comes to the conclusion that all physiological writers, ancient and modern, seem to he agreed that the causes of life and organisation are utterly invisible, whether they pass under the name of " animating principles, vital principles, in divisible atoms, or organic particles," or by whatever name they may be called : and that the first writer who has thrown any light upon this subject is the prophet Moses, the law-giver of the Jews. He regularly assigns an adequate cause for the phenomena which he describes, not only for the orderly arrangement of the universe, but the first formation of the various species of animals and plants. The cause which he assigns is an omnipotent, omni- scient, omnipresent Being, invisible, self-existent, and eternal, and to whose will the whole material universe is subjected, more thoroughly and completely, though not more inconceivably, than our bodily organs are subjected to our wills. About this time the Doctor, for once, appeared as a controversialist. Many conjectures have been formed, and many fables told, respecting that dubious animal the Sea Snake. A huge sea monster, however, cast ashore on the island of Stronsa, in September 1808, was be- lieved to have at last settled the point, and authen- ticated its existence ; it measured 55 feet in length, and 10 feet in circumference; had six fins or paws MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 39 like arms, terminating in toes, edged all around, from the body to the extremity of the toes, with a row of bristles, about 10 inches long, and also a mane or range of bristles along the back, from the shoulder to the tail, about 14 inches in length, of a silvery colour, and luminous in the dark. So strange a tenant of the deep, naturally attracted Dr. Barclay's curiosity, and he procured several of the vertebrae ; an account of which he read to the Wernerian Society, illustrated with drawings by Mr. Sime. Soon after, Everard Home, Esq., (afterwards Sir Everard) published in the London Philosophical Trans- actions, a description of two vertebrae of the Squalus maximus of Linnaeus, which he alleged were similar to those of the Orkney animal ; and, therefore, that the " great unknown" of Stronsa, was nothing else than the Squalus maximus, the Barking Shark of the Swede. Believing, however, that Barclay had com- mitted no mistake, even after perusing the affidavits of the persons who had seen it, he endeavoured to throw the blame of his own misconception on the declarations of the witnesses. This induced Barclay to publish his account of the animal, in a small pamphlet, to which he appended some brief replies to Mr. Home, concluding in the following caustically humorous manner : — " Be these declarations true or false, there is nothing in them which, when taken literally, in- dicates a Squalus, or Squalus maximus. This Mr. Home seems willing to admit ; and, therefore, is at some pains to explain how the sight of a Squalus, or more probably a Squalus maximus, produced 40 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. such truly wonderful effects on the senses, the judgment, the imagination, and veracity of these Orcadians, as to have made their solemn declar- ations so widely different from nature and from truth. If these odd effects, on the minds of the Orcadians, could have proceeded from nothing else than the sight of a Squalus, or a Squalus maximus, Mr. Home is certainly entitled to the credit of having discovered, if not a new species of fish, at least a new and re- markable variety of the human species inhabiting the Orkneys." Not long after, another tenant of the vasty deep was stranded near Newhaven. It was the Beluga Delphinus Albicans ; and here Barclay was so for- tunate as to be able to obtain its dissection. Again, in June 1815, a Beluga was killed near Stirling, and Mr. Bald having procured the specimen, it was submitted to Mr. now Dr. Neill and Dr. Bar- clay for inspection, who inserted an account of it in the Wernerian Society Memoirs, vol iii. p. 471 , the former giving an account of its external characters, and the latter of its structure. Its length was 13^ feet, its greatest circumference 8 feet 1 1 inches. But his labours were now approaching to a close. In 1824, while on a visit to an intimate friend, Mr. Charles Oliphant, W.S., he sustained a slight paralytic shock, and his speech became somewhat affected. From this period he gradually declined, and at length sunk under prolonged exhaustion on the 21st August 1826. His remains were interred at Restalrig, near Edinburgh, the family burying-ground of his father- MEMOIR OP JOHN BARCLAY. 41 in-law, Sir James Campbell. His funeral was at- tended by many of his private friends, and by the Royal College of Surgeons as a body, to mark their great respect for his memory. For several years before his death, Dr. Barclay was desirous that his Museum should be handed over to some public body, in order that it might become per- manently useful to the Medical School of Edinburgh. Having at length resolved to present it to the Royal College of Surgeons, the following letter, which will be read with interest, was addressed by him to the President of that body. DEAR SIR, Anxious to add, and yearly adding, to the number of my anatomical preparations, notwithstanding that my rooms are already too crowded, I have long thought, to prevent my collection from being scatter- ed after I can make use of it no more, to have it de- posited with some learned and respectable Society or body of men, who could estimate its value, and render it useful to themselves and others. My first thoughts were to present it to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, to which I am under so strong obligations, and for which I feel and shall ever feel a most sincere gratitude. Recollecting, however, that morbid preparations, and not preparations chief- ly anatomical, were what the College principally va- lued, it occurred to me that it might hesitate to accept my offer, and grudge the expense of building a hall for its reception. But these doubts having since been 42 MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. completely removed, upon knowing that the College has lately thought of purchasing at a very consider- able expense a most valuable anatomical collection on the Continent, I feel encouraged to offer to it mine, and to bequeath it simply on the condition, that the College will build a Hall to receive it ; and that the collection shall be allowed to retain my name ; not doubting that the necessary degree of care to preserve it from hastening too fast into decay will be attend- ed to. I have nothing more to add, than to assure you of my high respect for the College, of my warm gratitude for its former kindness, and to request that you will lay these proposals before it, and believe me to be, DEAR SIR, Yours truly, (Signed) JOHN BARCLAY. 6, ARGYLE SQUARE, '3d July 1821. To JOHN WISHART, ESQ. President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The College of Surgeons having at once resolved to avail themselves of this noble bequest, and having agreed, in terms of a deed of settlement subsequently executed by Dr. Barclay, that a Hall should be pro- vided for the suitable accommodation and adequate display of the collection, to be named the BARCLEIAN MUSEUM, it was in 1828 formally conveyed to that learned body, and was shortly afterwards deposited in the splendid building erected by them for their Museum and Library. MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 43 We are indebted to Mr. Macgillivray, the Conser- vator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, for the following succinct and interesting account of the BARCLEIAN MUSEUM. " Dr. Barclay's Collection is contained in a beauti- ful and well lighted apartment forty feet square, furnished with glazed cases and a gallery. It consists of 251 2 preparations, arranged in three series, under the heads of Human Anatomy and Pathology, Com- parative Anatomy, Fossils and Miscellanea. " In the department of Human Anatomy, there are 770 articles : viz., in spirits 60, in turpentine 1 0, dry 689, casts 3, engravings 8. The preparations illus- trative of the vascular system are numerous and of great value ; as are those of the osteological series. " In the department of Comparative Anatomy, there are 1457 preparations : viz., in spirits 234, in turpen- tine 5, dry 799, shells 245, eggs 174. Among these are many valuable skeletons of mammalia, including those of the Asiatic Elephant, Dromedary, Walrus, and Narwhal, together with an extensive series of skulls, and numerous specimens of teeth. The organs of circulation and digestion are also well illustrated. Skeletons and preparations of various organs of Birds, Reptiles and Fishes, together with specimens of Mollusca, Crustacea, Insects and Corals, form a series of considerable extent. " The number of simple minerals, and fossil organic remains, amounts to 242, and that of articles not be- longing to the three departments enumerated, is 43. "Considered as the collection of a private individual, 44 MEMOIR OP JOHN BARCLAY. formed at his own expense, with no other aid than that occasionally afforded hy his pupils, it is a monu- ment of zeal and energy ; although as a public museum it does not contain enough of specimens to illustrate the various organs of animals in the extended series disclosed by modern Zoology. Taken in con- nection with the preparations made by the late and present Conservators of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, it affords an important aid to the student of this delightful branch of science." In the Museum is likewise deposited a marble bust of Dr. Barclay, executed by Joseph in 1825. It was subscribed for by his pupils at a meeting at which Sir George Ballingall acted as Chairman, and was subse- quently presented by them to the College of Surgeons. The inscription on the bust is to the following effect. JOHN BARCLAY M.D., LECTURER ON ANATOMY IN THIS CITY, WHO BEQUEATHED TO THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS THE VALUABLE COLLECTION CONTAINED IN THIS APARTMENT. THIS BUST, EXECUTED BY DESIRE OF A MEETING OF DR. BARCLAY'S PUPILS, AT THE PERIOD OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM HIS DUTIES AS A LECTURER, WAS PRESENTED BY THEM TO THF ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. INTRODUCTION. THIS volume is devoted to the consideration of a group of quadrupeds or Mammalia, most of the species of which are commonly known either by the name of Opossum or Kangaroo. The first discovered species of this group were found in America, and are described by the earlier English authors, under the former of these names ; subsequently other animals were found in certain islands of the Indian Archi- pelago, and in Australia, which having some charac- ters in common with the Oppossums of America, were placed in the same group, and described under the original title of Didelphis* given by Linnaeus to the American Opossum. This name was suggested by one of the most remarkable characters which these animals exhibit, viz. : the possession, in the female, of a pouch or fold of skin on the abdomen, in which the young are carried. The term marsupiata, or marsupialia, (from marsupium, a purse or bag,) now usually applied to * From A* and AsAfpv?, double uterus, should therefore be Didelphys. 46 INTRODUCTION. this group of animals, has reference to the same character. They were likewise termed animalia crumentaria, or purse-bearing-animals, by Scaliger. The voyages of Cook made us acquainted with that most interesting animal, the Kangaroo, and some other species of Marsupial animals ; and we are in- debted to Governor Phillip* and White,t for several interesting additions. Tolerably good figures illus- trate the descriptions in the works of both these authors. The specimens collected in White's voy- age were described by John Hunter, to whom we are indebted for the first account of the dentition of many of these animals. It is remarkable that Dr. Shaw, with these materials before him, did not avail himself of them in his systematic work,J either to modify his de- finition of the genus Didelphys, or to separate from it such species as would not agree with the cha- racters given by himself at the commencement of the group. He appeared to be, in most instances, satis- fied with copying out the accounts of others. The credit is due to him, however, for the separation of the Kangaroos from the other Marsupial forms, and applying to them the generic title Macropus. Two other genera were founded by him ; one upon a species of flying Opossum, and the other on the * The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, 4to, London, 1789. + Appendix to the Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, by John White, 4to., 1790. $ General Zoology, 8vo, 1800. INTRODUCTION. 47 Ornithorhynchus, to which lie applied the name Platypus anatinus* Another extraordinary animal, closely allied to the last, the Echidna, was also first described by him. The Marsupiata, however, were left in a great state of confusion by Shaw, species of different groups being confounded, and the same animal in some cases placed in different orders. It is to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire that we are indebted for a revision of the group, and for the first clear definitions of many of the genera. His papers on this subject will be found in the earlier volumes of the asarich « * supposed may have b e, ' I particular group of this 7 , '"' &"d to one Rat-tribe. S °rder-the Murida> * or The above remarks refer on!,, At former periods we have S* ™^ SPecie«- 'onging to S. Marlupttahad tm 6 ^T™1* be' m fact they inhabited °h Wlder ran- -d South America ^ " Wdl as and he o0ve that the ramus of a er jZ T '] ? h''S °pinion' fieW oolite, belonJd tofW'foUndln '^Stones- Opossum. M.DeB]ainvammal a"ied to the s doubts as regards he conence -papers before - 277, and - Oasemeus INTRODUCTION. 5 1 ing the objections of that naturalist, and describing in detail the characters, not only of the fossil ex- amined by Cuvier, but likewise of some others since discovered also at Stonesfield. These remains con- sist of two portions of the lower jaw of an animal to which Mr. Owen applied the name Thylacothe- rium Prevostii, and a ramus of a lower jaw differ- ing from these, on which he founds his genus Phas- colotherium, using for the species the name Buck- land^ originally given by Mr. Broderip in his paper on the fragment published in the third volume of the Zoological Journal. The Stonesfield fossils under consideration, in the opinion of Mr. Owen, furnish the types of two new genera of Marsupial animals intermediate between the existing Sarco- phagous and Entomoenophagous groups. The Pkas- colotherium " presents the same numerical dental formula, apparently, as in the Thylacinus and Phascogcde ; but, if another incisor existed in each ramus of the lower jaw, as seems to be indicated by the fossil, then the dentition will agree with that of the genus Didelphys. Incisors, Ji£ or 4-4 ; canines, j'.j ; praemolares, £;£ ; molares, J.'l." The incisors and canines are separated by vacant interspaces, and occupy a large proportion of the dental series : the true molares resemble those of Thylacinus, The Thylacotkerium "presents eleven molars on each side of the lower jaw, which resemble, in structure and close arrangement, those of Phascogale and Didelphys, while they are intermediate in their pro- 52 INTRODUCTION. portional size to these and Myrmecobius. The exact condition of the incisors and canines of the Thylacotherium has not yet been displayed in the fossil jaws which have been discovered."* Besides the Stonesfield fossils alluded to, and those of the Paris Plaster, Mr. Charleswortht re- fers a certain fragment found in the London clay, near Woodbridge, in Suffolk, to the Marsupiata. This fragment consists of a portion of the right ramus of a lower jaw containing one false molar tooth. Mr. Charlesworth observes, " that the tooth in its symmetrical form, united with the indication of an anterior and posterior heel or talon, does not agree with any species of Didelph with which I have as yet been able to compare it ; but I think no doubt can be entertained of the generic or family affinities indicated by the character which it ex- hibits." Mr. Owen, in a paper J on the same frag- ment, regards the reference of this fragment to the genus Didelphys as premature, though it bears so close a resemblance to the corresponding part of the Opossum, as, in his opinion, to warrant the expecta- tion, that subsequent discoveries may prove the dif- ferences which exist to be merely specific. * See Professor Owen's " Outlines of a Classification of the Marsupialia," Proceedings of the Geological Society for January 1839, pp. 8 and 9. •f Magazine of Natural History for September 1839, p. 450. £ Annals of Natural History for November 1839, p. 192. INTRODUCTION. 53 The fossil Marsupial remains of South America, it would appear, as well as those of Australia, ex- hibit the same types of form as those which at present inhabit those regions. Dr. Lund, in his " Survey or Sketch of the extinct species of Mam- malia, which inhabited the highlands of tropical Brazil previously to the last Geological revolution,"* observes, relating to the Marsupiata, " of this family there is only a single existing genus in this district ; it is, however, tolerably abundant in species. These admit of two subdivisions according to their size ; one comprising the larger species, which, both in habits and magnitude, may be compared to our martens and polecats; the other, the smaller, that scarcely exceed in size our mice and rats. I am acquainted with two species in the first division, Didelphys aurita^ Pr. Max., and D. albiventer, Lund. ; and three in the latter, D. murina, Linn., D. brachyura, Pall., and D. pusilla, Desm. I find fossil remains of species belonging to both these divisions, which, for the present, I shall refer to two species." These remains were discovered by Dr. Lund, in certain caves " which occur in the calcare- ous rocks that traverse in various directions the in- terior highlands of Brazil." The following fossil remains were discovered by * This communication was addressed to, and is now pub- lished by, the Society of Sciences at Copenhagen. I quote from the Rev. W. Hilton's translation of this paper, published in "the Magazine of Natural History,*' see vol. iv., p. 313. •J" Did. Azara of most authors. 54 INTRODUCTION. Major Mitchell in the caves of Wellington valley and Buree, (Southern Australia.,) and are described in his work* by Mr. Owen : — 1. Dasyurus laniarius, Owen. — An extinct species about one- third larger than D. ursinus, which it closely resembles. The canines are proportionately larger. 2. Phalangista — Species undetermined, but apparently allied to P. vulpina. 3. Hypsiprymnus. — Species also undetermined. 4. Macropus Atlas, Owen — A species of Kangaroo at least one-third larger than Macropus major. 5. Macropus Titan, Owen. — As large as the preceding, but differing chiefly in the smaller size of the permanent spurious molar, which, in this respect, more nearly cor- responds with the existing Macropus major. 6. Macropus. — Undetermined species. 7. Halmaturus. — Undetermined species. 8. Phalcolomys Mitch ellii, Owen — This species is ap- parently a little larger than the recent species. 9. Diprotodon, Owen — A new genus founded on the an- terior extremity of the right ramus of the lower jaw, with a single large procumbent incisor, which resembles the corresponding tooth in the Wombat, both in its position and enamelled structure and portion ; it differs, however, in the quadrilateral figure of its transverse section, in which it corresponds to the inferior incisors of the hippopotamus. It appears from the examination of these fossils from Australia, that they are not referable to any known extra- Australian genera, nor are they re- ferable, from the present evidence, to any existing * " Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Aus- tralia," &c., by Major T. L. Mitchell, Surveyor General. INTRODUCTION. 55 species of Australian Mammalia, — the greater number certainly belonging to species either extinct or as yet not discovered. Classification of the Marsupiata. — The Marsu- piata, known to Linnaeus, are placed by him between the Carnivora and Insectivora, — that is to say, the genus Didelphys in the 12th edition of the Systema Naturae, is placed between the Linnaean genera Ursus and Talpa. Cuvier, in his Regne Animal, published in 1817, observes, as regards this class, •' that the Marsupials, which we arrange at the end of the Carnassieres as a fourth family of that great order, might almost be separated as a distinct order, so many peculiarities do they exhibit in their eco- nomy." * * * * " One might, in fact, say that the Marsupiata formed a distinct class, parallel to that of ordinary quadrupeds, and, like them, might be divided into orders." In the last edition of the Regne Animal, which made its appearance in 1829, we find this group separated as a distinct order, and placed between the Carnivora and Rodentia* De Blainville, in his work entitled " De I' Organi- sation des Animaux," divides the class Mammalia * M. M. Desmarest, Lesson, and Fischer, follow the classi- fication of Cuvier's first edition. M. Temminck also adopts the classification of Cuvier, — but he has the credit of having separated, as distinct orders, the Cheiroptera and Marsupiata. The last mentioned order was therefore separated in 1827, two years before the publication of Cuvier's last edition. 56 INTRODUCTION. into two sub-classes, — the first, " Monodelphes," con- tains all the ordinary placental quadrupeds, and the second, " Didelphes" is composed of the Marsupiata. The " Didelphes" are thus sub-divided : — {Normal. . . f Diddphidce. ^ n angisiKKe. ^ Rodent. f Kchidna. f Burrowing. Abnormal. . \ OrniUiorhynchus. \ Swimming. This classification was published in 1822; but gome years afterwards, (in the Cours de la Faculte des Sciences, 1834,) he separated the Echidna and Ornithorhynchusfromthe Marsupiata, OY(fDidelphes," and formed with them a third sub-class, to which he gave the name Ornithodelphes. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire regarded the Marsupial animals as constituting a distinct group, which, like Cuvier, he placed between the Carnivora and Roden- tia ; indeed, this situation for the animals in question was originally suggested by Geoffroy.* The most recent classification of the present group is that of Professor Owen, communicated to the Zoological Society in January 1839, and published, in abstract, in that Society's proceedings, (Part vii., p. 5.) The following is a tabular view of this Anatomist's distribution of the various groups of which the Marsupiata is composed. * See his observations on the Wombat, in the Annales des Museum, vol. ii., p. 364, published in 1803. INTRODUCTION. 5? Tribes. Families. SARCOPHAGA. Three kinds of teeth ; canines long in both jaws ; a simple sto- Dasyuridce. mach ; no intestinum caecum. Extinct transitional Subgenera. / Thvlacinus. 1 Dasyurus. ( Phascogale. ENTOMOPHAGA. Three kinds of teeth in both jaws ; a simple stomach ; a moder- Ambulatoria. Myrmecobius. atelvlong intestinum ~~ • • (SHS. Samsoria. . Didelphis. . Chcironectes. CARPOPHAGA. fPha,angista. mach; a very long intestinum caecum. POEPHAGA. Anterior incisors large and long in both jaws ; canines pre- sent in the upper jawonly,orwanting. A complex stomach; a long intestinum ccecum. BHIZOPHAGA. Two scalpriform incis- ors in both jaws ; no canines. Stomach with a special gland; Phascolomyidce. caecum short, wide, with a vermiform appendage. ,. ^ Petaurus. Phascolarctida. Phascolarctus. mnus. / Halmaturut. nlnmrq 1 todoii }Fo8si1' Thus four, celebrated Anatomists and Zoologists, Cuvier, Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, De Blainville, and Owen, agree in regarding the Marsupiata as a dis- tinct group of Mammalia; there are, however, several Zoologists who regard the section Marsupiata as an unnatural one, and arrange the species of that group in the various other orders of quadrupeds. Among 58 INTRODUCTION. others, may be mentioned Storr, Illiger, F. Cuvier Bennett,* Swainson, and Ogillby. The reasons which Mr. Swainson adduces in fa- vour of his views, I will give in his own words. "It may be expedient," says Mr. Swainson,t " to advert to those considerations, which have induced us to sepa- rate the Carnivorous Marsupials, from those which are herbivorous, and thereby to break up the order Marsupiata of the Regne animal Nearly all our leading naturalists have acknowledged the artificial nature of this assemblage, uniting as it does animals of the most opposite natures, and of the most dissi- milar organization, merely from the circumstance of their possessing a marsupial pouch. Upon what reasons M. Cuvier, by instituting this order, was in- duced to violate the very first principles of his own arrangement — which every one sees is mainly found- ed upon the structure of the teeth — we know not : but this single circumstance is sufficient to excite the strongest suspicion that his arrangement is not natu- ral. This, at least, was the conclusion at which we arrived after the most careful investigation we could give the subject, and after endeavouring in vain to discover a circular series among the Marsupial Ani- * Many very important discoveries have been made in the internal organization of the Marsupiata, since the views of the three first mentioned authors were published. I think it pro- bable, therefore, that had they been acquainted with these additional facts, they would have arrived at different conclu- sions. f Classification of Quadrupeds, in the Cabinet Cyclopedia, p. 166. London, 1835. INTRODUCTION. 59 mals." Mr. Bennett's * opinion is next quoted, that author having strongly expressed his belief that the Marsupalia do not form a natural group. " When we see/' observes Mr. Bennett, " that the single pe- culiarity that unites them, is bestowed upon types of form so widely different from each other, we cannot consider this simple metastasis of junction in a certain set of organs alone, however great the importance of that function in the animal economy, as furnishing sufficient ground for the overthrow of every principle of classification, and for setting at nought some of the most strongly marked affinities that the animal king- dom affords/' In the classification of Illiger, the greater portion of the Marsupiata are thrown together, and constitute the sixth family of his order Pollicaia; but the Kan- garoos and Hypsprymni are separated from the rest, and form a family by themselves, to which he applies the name Salientia. By Storr, those Marsupial animals, which have a distinct opposable thumb — the true Opossums and Phalangers — are placed near the Quadrumana, and form the third division of a great group, the first of the divisions consisting of the genus Homo, and the second being composed of the Monkeys and Lemurs. Mr. Ogilby,t also considering the presence of an * The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society Delineated, vol. i., p. 265. London, 1831. 4- Observations on the Opposable Power of the Thumb in certain Mammalia, considered as a Zoological Character, &c. &c. Magazine of Natural History, vol. i., p. 449, and p. 517. 60 INTRODUCTION. opposable thumb of primary importance, places the Opossums and Phalangers in the same group with the Quadrumana and Bimana, giving to the group the name of Cheiropoda, and dividing it as follows : — • X BlMANA. "I on the anterior extre- >Homo. mities only, J Simla. CHEIBOPODA. QUADRUMANA. and with anthropoid teeth. on both anterior and" Mammals , posterior extremities. Lemuridte. and with abnormal with opposable teeth. thumbs. Simiadce. and with anthropoid teeth. PBDIMANA Gliridte. on the posterior extre-' ^ mities only and with rodent teeth. DiddpTiida. and with abnormal teeth. The arrangement adopted in this work, and that which I originally published, in 1838, in the Cata- logue of the Mammalia preserved in the Museum of the Zoological Society, is as follows : — Families. Genera. QHer MARSUYIATA. < DIDELPKIDJE. . Didelphys. {Thylacinus. Dasyurus. Phascogale. MYKMECOBIIDJE. Myrmecobius. Sub-genera Cheironectes. PERAMELIDJE, MACRO PO f Perameles. \ Chaeropus. / Macropus- \ Hypsiprymnus. f Phalangista. PHALANGISTID^]petaurus. t Phascolarctus, PHASCOLOMYID.«. Phascolomys. ( Echidna. VMoNOTBEMATA. \ Ornithorhyn- (. chua. {Cuscus. Peeudocheirus. ( Belidea. \ Acrobata. INTRODUCTION. 61 In analyzing the Marsupiata, with a view to deter- mine with which group to commence the order, I was anxious to select a genus, the species of which would exhibit the most perfect dentition, and at the same time present other characters which are com- mon in the species of that order. These characters I found combined, in the most perfect manner, in the true Opossums (Didelphys) — they possess the greatest number of teeth, (if we except the extra- ordinary abnormal dentition of Myrmecobius,*) a well developed thumb to the posterior extremities, their limbs are fitted either for climbing or walking, and their tail is muscular, and capable of being used as an organ of prehension.* In addition to these nor- mal characters, I learn, from Professor Owen's paper, that nearly the whole of the Marsupiata are provided with an intestinum caecum, and in this respect the true Opossums may still be regarded as affording a good typical representation of the order. I may, moreover, observe that, as a general rule, animals of omnivorous or fugivorous diet are higher, in their own order > in the grade of organization, than either the carnivorous, insectivorous, or herbivorous species. Again, it is well known that the Opossums t are sometimes destitute of the abdominal pouch, J and I * The enormously strong, muscular tail of the Kangaroos, can only be regarded as presenting a slight modification of the prehensible character of tail so common in the Marsupiata. + I always use this term in its restricted sense — that is, for the genus Didelphys. $ Are the young of those Opossums, in which the pouch is rudimentary, more perfectly developed at their birth, than the young of other Marsupials ? 62 INTRODUCTION. cannot help regarding the absence of this organ (in conjunction with the other points alluded to) as indi- cative of an approach, in these animals, to the higher orders. I have mentioned these, my principal reasons, for placing the genus Didelphys at the head of the Mar- supiata, because I regard the situation of this South American group, as one of the most important dis- agreements between my classification and that of Professor Owen. Having determined to place the genus Didelphys at the head of the order, my next object was to arrange the remaining groups near to, or remote from this typical genus, as they might approach or recede from that group. In the Dasyuri) I found the dentition* and the form of the skull almost identical with that of the Opossums, and in the smaller species the similarity in the external characters of these groups renders it difficult to distinguish them. It might be said that the Opossums have a prehensile tail, whereas in the Dasyuri the tail is not prehensile; but I may remark that in some of the small Opossums (Didelphys brachyura, &c.) the prehensile charac- ter of the tail is almost lost : for these reasons I have placed the Dasyuri next the Opossums. The genus Myrmecobius in most of its characters is intermediate between Perameles and Phascogale ; whilst Perameles appears to unite the characters of * The only important difference between the dentition of the Dasyuridae and the Didelphidce, consists in the number of the incisors. INTRODUCTION. 63 carnivorous and herbivorous species. Its dentition in many respects presents an intermediate structure, but perhaps approaches a little more nearly to the carnivorous type ; its limbs, however, most nearly resemble those of the Kangaroos, and these latter animals are still more perfectly united to the Pera~ meles, by means of the Kangaroo-rats, or Hypsi- prymniy which are provided with small canines. These considerations induce me to place the Macro- podidce after the Peramelidce, but in so doing, I cannot blind myself to the fact, that some of the Phalangistidce, especially the Phalangista nana, also evince a very close approach to the small Dasyuri in the general structure of their teeth. I am not surprised, therefore, that many naturalists place them before the Macropodidce. In short, the Phalangers and Kangaroos are, in my opinion, so closely allied, that I think they might with propriety be regarded as the arboreal and terrestrial divisions of the same larger section, and, moreover, both these groups appear to be, as above stated, closely allied to the Dasyuridce ; hence I arrive at the conclusion, that the mutual affinities of the species of the present group of animals cannot be expressed by arranging them in linear series, and a similar conclusion has been the result of my endeavours to classify other groups. In the foregoing account of the various classifica- tions of the Marsupial animals proposed by different authors, it is evident that Mr. Swainson is in error, in stating that " nearly all our leading naturalists have acknowledged the artificial nature of the as- 64 INTRODUCTION. semblage ;" but I think we might, on the other hand, say, with safety, that all the most eminent anatomists (these being at the same time zoologists) agree in uniting them — at least all who have written on the subject, and who have had the necessary materials for forming a just opinion. I could wish, however, that this important question should not rest upon authority ; but to go through the train of reasoning, by which the anatomists have arrived at their con- clusions, would require more space than can be spared in a volume like the present one, and, more- over, would not be suited to a popular work. It has often been stated that the Marsupiata consist of animals of most dissimilar organization, and are united together only by a single peculiarity . whatever little weight some zoologists may attach to this single peculiarity, its value was almost immedi- ately appreciated by the anatomists and physiolo- gists. But I will now proceed to show that the animals under consideration are united by many peculiarities — these serving to distinguish them from all other quadrupeds, whilst the rich collections now in the British Museum, and in that of the Zoological Society, show that the most dissimilar forms of Marsupial animals are closely linked together by species exhibiting the intermediate grades of structure. The most striking peculiarity in the Marsupial animals consists in the premature birth of their young, and consequently the imperfect state of development which they present at this period — compared with other Mammalia. The young of the great Kangaroo, INTRODUCTION. 65 (Maeropus major,} which Professor Owen examined twelve hours after birth, " resembled an earthworm in the colour and semi-transparency of its integument, adhered firmly to the point of the nipple, breathed strongly but slowly, and moved its fore legs when disturbed. Its body was bent upon the abdomen, its short tail tucked in between the hind legs, which were one third shorter than the fore legs, but with the three divisions of the toes now distinct. The whole length, from the nose to the end of the tail, when stretched out, did not exceed 1 inch 2 lines.* Four days after the birth of the young Kangaroo, Professor Owen, being anxious to decide the nature of the connection between it and the nipple, and to ascertain whether so small a foetus would manifest the powers of a voluntary agent in regaining the nipples, detached it, and, after two days, upon again examining the pouch, he found it empty — every por- tion of the litter was carefully searched, in the hopes of finding the foetus, but without success — the mother, therefore, owing to the disturbance of the young one, had probably destroyed it. A similar experiment was tried by Mr. Morgan,t on a foetus about the size of a Norway Rat, which after two hours' separation from the nipple, regained its hold, and sustained no injury from the interruption of the supply of nou- rishment. * Philosophical Transactions, Part ii. for 1834. •f Transactions of the Linnaean Society, vol. xvi. Gf) INTRODUCTION. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Zoo- logical Society, and read before the Scientific Meet- ing on the 14th July 1840, Sir Robert Heron states that a young Kangaroo had by some accident got out of the pouch of its mother before the proper time, and some hours having elapsed before he could find his keeper, the little animal., which was quite naked, was scarcely alive when he arrived — the keeper how- ever took it home, gave it milk, and by careful treat- ment, it quite recovered; it was then restored to the pouch, where it had remained five days, at the time that a second letter from Sir R. Heron announced the fact to the Society, and appeared perfectly well. Mr. Collie* describes the young of a species of Kangaroo (probably that described in this work under the name of Derbianus,) which he saw at Buache, or Garden Island, Western Australia, as being