The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ... The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...
124 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii.and hyaenas, tapirs, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephants, giraffes,and antelopes, such as now characterise the tropics of Africaand Asia. Along with these we meet with less familiar types,showing relations with the Centetidae of Madagascar, theTupaiidaa of the Malay Islands, the Cajpromys, of the West Indies,and the Echimys of South America. And besides all theseliving types we have a host of extinct forms,—ten or twelvegenera allied to swine ; nine genera of tapir-like animals ; fourof horses ; nine of wolves ; with many distinct forms of theLong-extinct familiesof Anoplotheridae, Xiphodontidae, and theedentate Macrotheridae. It is almost certain that during theMiocene period Europe was not only far richer than it is nowin the higher forms of life,but not improbably richer than anypart of the globe now is, not excepting tropical Africa andtropical Asia.Eocene Period.The deposits of Eocene age are less numerous, and spreadover a far more limited area, than those of the Miocene period,and only restricted portions of them furnish any remains ofland animals.Our knowledge of the Eocene mammalian faunais therefore very imperfect and will not occupy us long, asmost of the new types it furnishes are of more interest to thezoologist than to the student of distribution. Some of theEocene mammalia of Europe are, however, of interest in comparisonwith those of North America of the same age ;whileothers show that ancestral types of groups now confined toAustralia or to South America, then inhabited Europe.Primates.— The only undoubted Eocene examples of thisorder, are the Ccenojnthecus lemuroides from the Jura, which haspoints of resemblance to the South American marmosets andhowlers, and also to the Lemuridae ; and a cranium recently discoveredin the Department of Lot (S.W. France), undoubtedlybelono-ino- to the Lemuridae, and which most resembles that ofthe West African " Potto " (Pcrodidicus). This discovery hasled to another for it is now believed that remains formerly
chap, vi.] MAMMALIA OF THE OLD WORLD. 125referred to the Anoplotheridae (Adapts and Aphelotheriumfrom the Upper Eocene of Paris) were also Lemurs. Someremains from the Lower Eocene of Suffolk were at first supposedto be allied to Macacas, but were subsequently referred to theUngulate, Hyracothcrium. There is still, however, some doubtas to its true affinities.Chiroptera.—In the Upper Eocene of Paris remains of batshave been found, so closely resembling living forms as to bereferred to the genus Vesyertilio.Carnivora.—The only feline remains, are those of Hycenodonin the Upper Eocene of Hampshire, and Pterodon, an allied formfrom beds of the same age in France ; with yElurogale, foundin the South of France in deposits of phosphate of lime ofuncertain age, but probably belonging to this period.Viverridae(civets) are represented by two genera, Tylodon, the size of aglutton from the Upper Eocene, and Palceonyctis, allied toViverra, from the Middle Eocene of France. The Canidse(wolves and foxes) appear to have been the most ancient ofthe existing types of Carnivora, five genera being representedby Eocene remains. Of these, Galethylax and Cyotherium weresmall, and with the existing genus Canis are found in the UpperEocene of France. Arctocyon, about the size of a wolf, isa very ancient and generalised form of carnivore which cannot be placed in any existing family. It is found in the LoweiEocene of France, and is thus the oldest known member ofthe Carnivora.Ungidata.—These are more numerous. Equidae (horses) arerepresented by the Miocene Anchithcrium in the Lower, and by amore ancient form, Anchilophus, in the Middle Eocene of France.Tapiridse and Paheotheridae were very numerous.Palceotheriumand the allied genus Pcdoplotherium, were abundant in France andEngland in Upper Eocene times. They somewhat resembledthe tapir, with affinities for the horse and rhinoceros. A newgenus, Cadurcotherium, allied to the rhinoceros and equallylarge, has been found in the same deposits of phosphate of limeas the lemur and JElurogale. In the Middle Eocene of bothEngland and France are found Lophiodon allied to the tapir,
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124 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii.and hyaenas, tapirs, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephants, giraffes,and antelopes, such as now characterise <strong>the</strong> tropics <strong>of</strong> Africaand Asia. Along <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong>se we meet <strong>with</strong> less familiar types,showing <strong>relations</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> Centetidae <strong>of</strong> Madagascar, <strong>the</strong>Tupaiidaa <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Malay Islands, <strong>the</strong> Cajpromys, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Indies,and <strong>the</strong> Echimys <strong>of</strong> South America. And besides all <strong>the</strong>seliving types we have a host <strong>of</strong> extinct forms,—ten or twelvegenera allied to swine ; nine genera <strong>of</strong> tapir-like <strong>animals</strong> ; four<strong>of</strong> horses ; nine <strong>of</strong> wolves ; <strong>with</strong> many distinct forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Long-extinct families<strong>of</strong> Anoplo<strong>the</strong>ridae, Xiphodontidae, and <strong>the</strong>edentate Macro<strong>the</strong>ridae. It is almost certain that during <strong>the</strong>Miocene period Europe was not only far richer than it is nowin <strong>the</strong> higher forms <strong>of</strong> life,but not improbably richer than anypart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globe now is, not excepting tropical Africa andtropical Asia.Eocene Period.<strong>The</strong> deposits <strong>of</strong> Eocene age are less numerous, and spreadover a far more limited area, than those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Miocene period,and only restricted portions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m furnish any remains <strong>of</strong>land <strong>animals</strong>.Our knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eocene mammalian faunais <strong>the</strong>refore very imperfect and will not occupy us long, asmost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new types it furnishes are <strong>of</strong> more interest to <strong>the</strong>zoologist than to <strong>the</strong> student <strong>of</strong> <strong>distribution</strong>. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Eocene mammalia <strong>of</strong> Europe are, however, <strong>of</strong> interest in comparison<strong>with</strong> those <strong>of</strong> North America <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same age ;whileo<strong>the</strong>rs show that ancestral types <strong>of</strong> groups now confined toAustralia or to South America, <strong>the</strong>n inhabited Europe.Primates.— <strong>The</strong> only undoubted Eocene examples <strong>of</strong> thisorder, are <strong>the</strong> Ccenojn<strong>the</strong>cus lemuroides from <strong>the</strong> Jura, which haspoints <strong>of</strong> resemblance to <strong>the</strong> South American marmosets andhowlers, and also to <strong>the</strong> Lemuridae ; and a cranium recently discoveredin <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Lot (S.W. France), undoubtedlybelono-ino- to <strong>the</strong> Lemuridae, and which most resembles that <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> West African " Potto " (Pcrodidicus). This discovery hasled to ano<strong>the</strong>r for it is now believed that remains formerly
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