316 TOWARDS THE HUMAN FORM 



but the Chinchillas and Cabiais, among the Rodents, were 

 already specialized, and representatives of the Edentata 

 were the gigantic Megatherium, Mylodon, Megalonyx, the true 

 Armadillos, and true Ant-Eaters. The Perissodactyla 

 belonged to two families, Prototheridae and Macrauchenidae. 

 Finally, Ameghino has described under the name Homunculidse 

 a series of Monkeys in which he chose to see the distant 

 ancestors of all the Monkeys and of Man himself. 



In the following period, which is our own, the fauna of South 

 America continued its special evolution, but North American 

 elements had already penetrated it, especially in the basin of 

 Parana belonging to the Upper Neogene. These newcomers 

 were Carnivora of various groups — Bears (Proarctotherium) , 

 Dogs (Amphicyon) , Raccoons, and, right at the end of the 

 period, a Ruminant (Microtragulus). 



Man himself was now on the point of making his 

 appearance. 



