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.