The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

112 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii.extend so far south. We have here remains of Equus, Bos,Antilope, Hippopotamus, Elephas, Rhinoceros, Ursus, Canis,and Hycena, together with Phacoclmrus, an African type ofswine which has not occurred in the European deposits.It is perhaps to the earlier portion of this period that theMerycotherium of the Siberian drift belongs. This was ananimal related to the living camel, thus supporting the view thatthe Camelidce are essentially denizens of the extra-tropical zone.Pliocene Period.Primates.—We here first meet with evidence of the existenceof monkeys in Central Europe. Species of Macacus have leftremains not only in the Newer Pliocene of the Val d'Arno inItaly, but in beds of the same age at Grays in Essex ; whileSemnopithecus and Cercopithecus, genera now confined to theOriental and Ethiopian regions respectively, have been found inthe Pliocene deposits of the South of France and Italy.Carnivora.—Most of the genera which occurred in the PostPliocene are found here also, and many of the same species. Fewnew forms appear, except Hyamarctos, a large bear w T ith charactersapproaching the hyaenas, and Pristiphoca, a new form of seal,both from the Older Pliocene of France ; and Galecynus, a foxlikeanimal intermediate between Canis and Viverra, from thePliocene of OZninghen in Switzerland.Cetacea.—Species of Balcena, Physeter, and Dclphinus occur inthe Older Pliocene of England and France, and with these theremains of many extinct forms, Balccnodon and Hoplocctus(Balsenidse) ;Belemnoziphius and Chone&iphius (Hyperoodontidae),and Halitherium, an extinct form of the next order— Sirenia,now confined to the tropics, although the recently extinct Bytinaof the N. W. Pacific show r s that it is also adapted for temperateclimates.Ungulata.—The Pliocene deposits are not very rich in thisorder. The horses (Equidai) are represented by the genus Equus ;and here we first meet with Hipparion, in which small lateraltoes appear. Both genera occur in British deposits of this age.