CHAPTER XIX 



ANIMALS OF LONG AGO 



THE STORY OF THE EARTH.— Extinct animals, of whose appear- 

 ance and general characters we learn from fossil remains preserved 

 in the strata of the earth, are no less interesting than existing species ; 

 indeed, they are a most fascinating subject of investigation and 

 study. Unfortunately the vicissitudes of time and accident have 

 completely destroyed myriads of life-forms which existed in past 

 ages, but the remains which have been preserved in the various 

 stratified rocks of the world are sufficiently numerous and varied to 

 enable us to understand that for vast ages the earth has been popu- 

 lated by teeming multitudes of curious creatures. Some kinds of 

 creatures have persisted through long ages of geological time, and 

 we still have their living descendants with us ; many of these have 

 preserved the characteristics of their kind from a very remote period, 

 while others have undergone various modifications in order to meet 

 changed circumstances, and to secure victory in the ceaseless struggle 

 for existence. 



In this chapter an attempt is made to give the reader some descrip- 

 tion of a few out of the many extinct animals of which remains have 

 been found in such quantity and state of preservation to enable 

 skilful anatomists to reconstruct their skeletons and give a very fair 

 idea of their original appearance and habits. It is not the writer's 

 intention, nor is it within the scope of this volume to present an 

 elaborate and detailed thesis on the subject. In fact it is hoped that 

 these altogether inadequate lines will stimulate the reader to investi- 

 gate the subject for himself by a careful perusal of such books as 

 Extinct Monsters and Creatures of Other Days, by the Rev. H. N. 

 Hutchinson; Extinct Animals, by Sir E. Ray Lankester, as well as 

 numerous other books of a more technical character. The knowledge 

 and pleasure gained from such a study will amply repay the effort 

 involved. 



Extinct animals, of course, are such as do not exist to-day; they 

 z 2 339 



