On the fossil mammals of Australia. Part VII. Genus Phascolomys; species exceeding the existing ones in size. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Volume 162, 1871-1872. [NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT]

London: Taylor and Francis, 1872. 1st Edition. No wrappers, as extracted. First edition of a classical paper complete with 7 lithograph plates by the famous English paleontologist, biologist and comparative anatomist Richard Owen. This paper is the first in a series of ten entitled "On the Fossil Mammals of Australia." NOTE: We offer other Owen papers separately, including almost all papers in his "On the Fossil Mammals of Australia" series.

Genus Phascolomys, Owen here describes the finds of the remains of a possible extinct hairy-nosed wombat, here specifically the sinus area and some dentary.

Owen "distinguished himself with his powers of organization and deduction. At the same time he showed himself to be a peerless anatomist with instincts for reconstruction almost on a par with the great Cuvier in Paris. He became such an expert on the anatomy of animals that he was granted first refusal on any animal that died at the London Zoological Gardens, and these he would invariably have delivered to his house for examination. Once his wife returned home to find a freshly deceased rhinoceros filling the front hallway" (Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, 88). CONDITION & DETAILS: London: Taylor and Francis. 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions", 1872. Vol. 162, pp. 173-196. 7 lithographed plates. Complete. The text is clean and bright. Very slight toning on the plates. Very good + condition.