252 VIEW OF THE FAUNA OF BRAZIL 



confined to the old world. For a further description of this 

 animal, and a drawing of its cranium^ I must refer to my 

 paper on the cave of Maquine. 



Of the genus Camelus, I possess the remains of two spe- 

 cies ; one exceeding a horse in size, the other a little less. 

 To which of the two sub-groups of this genus the fossils 

 belong, that is, whether to the modern inhabitant of the warm 

 regions of the old world, Camelus, 111., or to that now found 

 in the chain of the Andes, Auchenia, 111., my insufficient 

 means of comparison will not allow me to decide. 



I conclude this family with a small group that does not 

 exactly coincide with any one of its existing genera. This 

 genus, which, in the lightness of its form, rivals the most 

 agile of the antelope tribe, departs far from that group in the 

 details of its structure, as also from the goat, sheep, ox, and 

 camel. In some isolated points, it approaches the genus Cer- 

 vus, while in others, it differs from it more than do any rumi- 

 nants from each other. I propose the name oi Leptotherium 

 for this extinct genus, of which I possess the remains of two 

 species, one less than the roe, the other bigger than the stag 

 \^^ crown-hart ?"J. If, now, we take a comparative view of 

 the genera and species of this family, in the former and pre- 

 sent periods, we must remark, in the first place, the much 

 greater abundance of generic forms that distinguished the 

 ancient creation, inasmuch as their numbers are in the pro- 

 portion of four to one. Of these four, Leptotherium is en- 

 tirely extinct : with regard to the genus Camelus, I have 

 already observed, that the insuflSciency of my means of com- 

 parison prevents me from deciding whether the fossil species 

 belong to those of the old world, or to the sub-group of 

 this continent. But, if T might be allowed to venture a 

 speculation on this subject, I should declare for the latter 

 opinion, on the strength of a rule which we shall, in the se- 

 quel, see confirmed by many examples, namely, that the ani- 

 mal species of the ancient world exceeded in size the corre- 

 sponding species of the existing races : and we have seen 

 that the fossil species of Camelus are considerably inferior 

 to those of the old continent, while they somewhat surpass 

 those of the new world. 



In regard to the genus Antilope, it is well known, that in our 

 times, the warmer portions of Africa and Asia constitute its 

 dwelling-place. At the same time I must observe, that one 

 of the latest travellers in Chili, M. Gay, believes that he has 

 recognized a species of antelope, in the descriptions given 

 him by the natives, of an animal that inhabits the inacces- 

 sible regions of the Andes. Should this supposition prove 



