CHAPTER VI

THE SUBCLASS METATHERIA OR DIDELPHIA 128

General characters, 128; Distribution, 131; Classification, 131.

Suborder POLYPROTODONTIA 133

Family DIDELPHYIDÆ, 133; Chironectes, 134; Didelphys, 135. Family DASYURIDÆ, 136; Subfamily Dasyurinæ, 136; Thylacinus, 136; Sarcophilus, 137; Dasyurus, 138; Phascologale, 139; Sminthopsis, 139; Antechinomys, 139; Subfamily Myrmecobiinæ, 140; Myrmecobius, 140. Family PERAMELIDÆ, 141; Perameles, 142; Peragale, 143; Chœropus, 143.

Suborder DIPROTODONTIA 144

Family PHASCOLOMYIDÆ, 144; Phascolomys, 145; Phascolonus, 146. Family PHALANGERIDÆ, 147; Subfamily Tarsipedinæ, 148; Tarsipes, 148; Subfamily Phalangerinæ, 149; Phalanger, 149; Trichosurus, 150; Pseudochirus, 151; Petauroides, 152; Dactylopsila, 152; Petaurus, 153; Gymnobelideus, 154; Dromicia, 154; Distœchurus, 155; Acrobates, 155; Subfamily Phascolarctinæ, 155; Phascolarctus, 156. EXTINCT PHALANGEROIDS, 157; Thylacoleo, 157. Family MACROPODIDÆ, 158; Subfamily Hypsiprymnodontinæ, 162; Hypsiprymnodon, 162; Triclis, 162; Subfamily Potoroinæ, 162; Potorous, 163; Bettongia, 163; Caloprymnus, 164; Æpyprymnus, 164; Subfamily Macropodinæ, 164; Lagostrophus, 165; Dendrolagus, 165; Dorcopsis, 166; Lagorchestes, 166; Onychogale, 166; Petrogale, 167; Macropus, 167; Extinct genera, 170. EXTINCT FAMILIES, 171; Diprotodon, 171; Nototherium, 171.