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

—;134 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii.Mephitis or skunk ; Herpetotherium, near the moles ; Embasis,more allied to the shrews ; and Dommina, of uncertain affinities.Two others have been found in the Eocene of Wyoming;Amo?nys,having some resemblance to hedgehogs and to the Eastern Tupaia;and Washakms, of doubtful affinities.Far back in the Triassic coal of North Carolina has been foundthe jaw of a small mammal (Dromothcrium), theteeth of whichsomewhat resemble those of the Australian Myrmccobius, andmay belong either to the Insectivora or Marsupials ; if indeed, atthat early period these orders were differentiated.Carnivora.—The most ancient forms of this order are someremains found in the Middle Eocene of Wyoming, and othersrecently described by Professor Cope (1875) from the Eocene ofNew Mexico, of perhaps earlier date. The former consist of threegenera, Patriofelis,Vintacyon, and Sinopa,—animals of large sizebut which cannot be classed in any existing family ; and twoothers, Mcsonyx and Synoplotheriurn,allied to Hyccnodon.believed by Mr. Cope to beThe latter consist of four genera,— Oxycena,consisting of several species, some as large as a jaguar, wasallied to Hyccnodon and Pterodon ; Pachyccna, allied to the lastPrototomus, allied to Amphicyon and the Viverridas ; and Limnocyon,a civet-like carnivore with resemblances to the Canidse.In the Miocene formations we find the Feline type well developed.The wonderful Machairodus, which in Europe lived downto Post-Pliocene times, is found in the Upper Miocene of Dakotaand perfect crania have been discovered, showing that the chinwas lengthened downwards toreceive and protect the enormouscanines. Dinyctis was allied both to Machairodus and to theweasels.Three new genera have been lately described by ProfessorCope from the Miocene of Colorado,Buncclurus, with charactersof both cats and weasels ; Baptophilus, allied to Dinyctis ; andHoplophoncus, more allied to Machairodus. The Canidas are representedby Amphicyon, which occurs in deposits of the sameage in Europe ; and by Canis, four species of which genus arerecorded by Professor Cope from the Miocene of Colorado, and italso occurs in the Pliocene. The Hyccnodon is represented bythree species in the Miocene of Dakota and Colorado.It occurs