180 SCIENTIFIC LABOKS OF EDWARD LARTET. 



The rhinoceros may be compared to the E. latidens ; the authracotherinm 

 to the HippoiMtamus lepiorliynclms^ of Eouzon, near Puy-m-Velay ; the pa- 

 leothermm to a species of Paloplotherium of the calcareous deposit of 

 Eonzou. The existence of the rhinoceros is thus carried back to the 

 [time of the paloplotherium. The same relations between these animals 

 may extend to the beds of Hempstead, in the Isle of Wight, where there 

 are hippopotami and paleotherians ; also, to Bournocie Saint Pierre, where 

 the Ehinoceros Brivatensis has been found associated with a paleotherium. 

 Certain types of mammals which have been for a long time considered 

 as characteristic of distinct tertiary periods ought now to be examined 

 carefully with reference to the age of the deposits m which they are found. 



III. — RESEARCHES RELATIVE TO QUATERNARY FAUNA TO THAT OF 

 THE CAVES AND TO THAT OF THE PRESENT TIME. 



The researches of M. Lartet in regard to quaternary fauna, to that of 

 the caves, and to fossil man, added gTeatly to his reputation, and i)laced 

 him among the most illustrious sarans of our country. He did not seek 

 celebrit^^ 5 modest, conscientious, and burdened with the heavy respon- 

 sibilities of an official position, he loved science for the pleasure it 

 gives its votaries. His amicable relations with most of the naturalists 

 of Eiu-ope was of great advantage to him, and his careful study of qua- 

 ternary and tertiary fauna prepared him for the discussion of the great 

 question of fossil man. It was, therefore, not surprising that he should 

 have distinguished himself in this branch of natural science. 



The memoir of M. Lartet upon the ancient migTations of the mammals 

 of the present time may be considered as .an introduction to the consid- 

 eration of the fauna of the caves. According to his observations, the 

 quaternary fauna includes two distmct zoological gTou[)S : The first is 

 represented by the elephant of Africa, the two-horned rhinoceros, the hijp- 

 popotanuis, the lion, the panther, the serval, the striped hyena, the genet, 

 the wild boar, &c., animals now nearly all African, which lived in 

 Europe before, during, and after the great migratory i^henomenon of the 

 north. 



The second zoological group is composed of mammals of northern 

 origin, Elcphas prhnigeiiins, Ehinoceros tichorliinus^ and many species of 

 Europe. A few of its representatives, the musk-ox, the lemming, the 

 glutton, the reindeer, since the quaternary period, have migrated to subarc- 

 tic latitudes ; others, such as the UlcpMs primigenius, the Ehinoceros tich- 

 orhinus, Ccrvus giganteiis, Bos primigenius, JJrsiis spelccuSj &c., are gene- 

 rally becoming extinct, in accordance with the laws which control the 

 longevity of iadiAiduals, and so limit the duration of species. 



Truly an examination of the quaternary fauna is not less important 

 ihan that of the periods which })receded and followed it, and we can 

 well comprehend M. Lartet's opposition to the doctrine, then all-power- 

 ful, which reduced to a short period of physical convulsions, the time 

 during which the quaternary species were developed. " This quaternary 



