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

144 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part n.immense lapse of time, probably some thousands of years.More than 100 species of Mammalia, in all, were obtainedin these caves. Some were living species or closely alliedto such; but the majority were extinct, and a considerablenumber, about one-fourth, belonged to extinct genera, orgenera not now inhabiting South America. Stone implementsand human remains were found in several of the caves withextinct animals. The following enumeration of these remainsis from the corrected list of M. Gervais.Primates.—Extinct species of Cebus, Callithrix, and Jacchus—South American genera of monkeys; with an extinct genus,Protop>ithccus—axi animal of large size but belonging to theAmerican family Cebidae.Chiroptera.—Species belonging to the South American Phyllostomidre,and to two South American genera of other families.Carnivora.—Five species of Felis, some allied to living animals,others extinct ; a species of the widespread extinct genusMachairodiis ; and a small species referred to Cynmlurus, thegenus containing the hunting leopard now found only inAfricaand India. Canidse are represented by Canis and Icticyon (aliving Brazilian species of the latter genus), and the extinctgenus Speothos. Mustelidse are represented by extinct speciesof the South American genera Mephitis and G-alietis. ProcyonidaB,by a species of Nasua. Ursidse, by Arctotherium, agenus closely resembling, if not identical with, that containingthe " spectacled bear " of Chili.Ungulata.— Equus, Tapirus, Dicotyles, Auchenia, Cervus,Leptotherium,and Antilope, are the cave-genera of this order.Equus and Antelope are particularly interesting, asrepresentinggroups forming no part of existing South American zoology;while the presence also of Leptotherium, an extinct genus ofantelopes, shows that the group was fairly represented in SouthAmerica at this comparatively recent period.Proboscidea.—A species of Mastodon, found also in the Plioceneof La Plata, represents this order.Rodentia.—These abound. Dasyprocta, Cmlogemjs, Cavia,Kerodon, all living genera of Caviidae, are represented by