286 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



effective as meat-cutters, and have a conic point in front. 

 The claws of this animal are, however, very exceptional, being 

 so broad and flat as to be almost hoofs, while other parts of 

 the feet differ much from all carnivora known. The species 

 has been named Synoplotherium lanius ; it was about the 

 size of the black bear, but had a larger head, and a long, slen- 

 der tail. While its claws were worthless as weapons, its teeth 

 were very formidable. It has been suggested that it preyed 

 on the turtles which so abounded during the same period. 

 The teeth of the specimen found were much w^orn from use 

 of hard food. 



Another genus was also found by Professor Cope, which 

 resembles the last one in many respects, and was another 

 representative of the same type. Its lower tusks were not 

 so long and large, and the claws not quite so flat. It was 

 called Mesonyx. What 2)eculiar habits these flat claws are 

 related to is a matter for curious sj^eculation. The two genera 

 certainly add features from outside to those proper to the 

 carnivora. 



OROHIPPUS AGILIS. 



Professor Marsh, of Yale College, has recently described, 

 under the name Oroliippus agilis^ a very interesting fossil 

 animal, allied to the horse. It was less than a fox in size, 

 but its skull and skeleton show many equine characters which 

 indicate that the genus is intermediate between Anchitheriwn 

 and the less specialized mammals of the Palmotherium type. 

 There were four well-developed digits in the fore-foot. The 

 radius and ulna were separate, and the latter bone was 

 stouter than in A^ichitherium. The orbit was not inclosed 

 behind, and there was no antorbital depression. There were 

 three upper molars and four premolars, and the first premolar 

 was nearly as large as the rest. The genus, therefore, sup- 

 plies the only missing link in the genealogy of the horse. 

 This unique specimen is from the eocene of Wyoming. 



MAYNARD ON THE MAMMALS OF FLORIDA. 



A catalogue of the mammals of Florida, with notes on their 

 habits, distribution, etc., by C. J. Maynard, has been pub- 

 lished in the Bulletin of the Essex Institute of Salem. From 

 this we learn that the panther and the wolf are still quite 



