118 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [PART II. 
Wight. The Malayan family Tupaiide or squirrel-shrews, is 
believed to be represented by Oxygomphus, a fossil discovered in 
South Germany (Wiesenau) by H. von Meyer. The Soricide or 
shrews, are represented by several extinct genera—Plesiosorex, 
Mysarachne and Galeospalaz ; as well as by Amphisorex and Myo- 
gale still living. Echinogale, a genus of Centetide now confined 
to Madagascar, is said to occur in the Lower Miocene of Auvergne, 
a most interesting determination, if correct, as it would form a 
transition to the Solenodon of the Antilles belonging to the same 
family ; but I am informed by Prof. Flower that the affinities of 
the animals described under this name are very doubtful. 
Carnivora.—Besides Felis and Machairodus, which extend back 
to the Upper Miocene, there are two other genera of Felide, 
Pseudelurus in the Upper Miocene of France, and Hycnodon, 
which occurs in the Upper and Lower Miocene of France, named 
from some resemblance in its teeth to the hyenas, and considered 
by some Palzontologists to form a distinct family, Hyzenodontide., 
The Viverride,. or civets, were very numerous, consisting of the 
living genus Viverra, and three extinct forms—Thalassictis= 
Ictitherium, as large as a panther, and Soricictis, a smaller form, 
occurring both in France and Hungary. Of Hyenide, there was 
the living genus Hyena, and the extinct Hyenictis, which has 
occurred in Hungary as well as in Greece. The Canidz, or 
wolf and fox family, were represented by Pseudocyon, near to 
Canis; Hemicyon, intermediate between dogs and gluttons; 
and Amphicyon, of which several species occur in the Upper 
and Lower Miocene of France, some of them larger than a 
tiger. The Mustelide, or weasels, were represented by five 
genera, the existing genera Lutra (otter) and Mustela (weasel) ; 
Potanotherium, an extinct form of otter; Taxodon, allied to the 
badger and otter; Palwomephitis in Germany, and the Prome- 
phytis (already noticed) in Greece. The bears were represented 
only by Hycnarctos, which has been noticed as occurring in 
the Pliocene, and first appears in the Upper Miocene of France. 
Seals are represented by a form resembling the Antarctic 
Otaria, remains of which occur in the Upper Miocene of 
France. 
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