[lambe] progress of VERTEBRATE PALAEONTOLOGY 29 



Among the Artiodactyla we have representatives of the Suidas, 

 Agriochœridœ and Camelidas. The highly specialized pig-like animals 

 of large size of the genus Elotherium are known from a number of 

 species from the Oligocène and Miocene beds of the western United 

 States. E. coarctatum is a species from Assiniboia considered of interest 

 on account of the primitive character of its teeth ; it was established on 

 a left mandibular ramus. Eemains of the Agriochœridœ probably 

 better knovni as the Oreodontidas, of which the typical genera were 

 termed ruminating hogs by Leidy, are scarce in the Cypress hills collec- 

 tions. The presence of the genus Oreodon is doubtfully indicated by a 

 lower first premolar. Of the genus Leptomeryx, which, with closely 

 allied forms, resembles the Cervidse of the Pliocene, there are three 

 species, L. esulcatus, L. mammifer and L. semicincttis, the first two of 

 which are also recorded from the Titanotherium beds of Montana by 

 Dr. W. D. Matthew.^ Hypertragulus transversus of the family of 

 Camelidse is characterized from two upper molar teeth. This genus 

 as well as Leptomeryx is placed by some authors with the Tragulidse. 



The order Ancylopoda includes primitive Ungulates having a 

 curious assemblage of characters, among which may be mentioned as 

 most striking the ungulate teeth and sloill and the iinguiculate terminal 

 phalanges. Chalicotherium has been referred to by Osborn as an un- 

 guieulate perissodactyl. It is represented in our west by the Cypress 

 hills species G. hilohatum, described by Cope from part of the jaw of 

 an adult individual. 



To the Leporidse, hares and rabbits, belongs the Oligocène species 

 Païœoîagus turgidus, previously known from the White Eiver beds of 

 Dakota and Colorado. This, the only rodent from the Cypress hills 

 district, is represented by mandibular rami. 



There is evidence of one species only of the Carnivora, viz. : Ilemip- 

 sdlodon grandis of the family of Hysenodontidae. Of it Cope remarks 

 in his description of the species that " it was the largest fiesh-eater of 

 the epoch of the White Eiver beds, and the size of its canine teeth 

 proves it to have been a dangerous ajiimal," also that "the jaw from 

 which it is known is more robust than that of any existing carnivore."' 



A perusal of the Oligocène faunal list will convince any reader of 

 the great variety of ancient and interesting forms of mammals that 

 inhabited our western country during this early Tertiary time. The 

 collections in our possession clearly show that the Cypress hills district 

 may be regarded as probably the most promising collecting ground for 

 fossil mammalian remains in Canada, and that with the aid of modern 



* Bulletin, American Museum of Natural History, " The Fauna of the 

 Titanotherium Beds at Pipestone Springs, Montana," vol. xix., article vi., p. 

 197, 1903. 



