448 ZOOLOGY. 



in the tertiary deposits of both Europe and Asia, showing a wider geogra- 

 phical range at an epoch previous to ours. 



The genus Sivatheraim is extinct, and belongs very likely to this family, 

 although presenting some affinities with pachj-derms. The upper molars 

 are six in number. The only species known exhibits characters found 

 only in ruminants. The heavier forms, shorter neck, and especially the 

 probable existence of a proboscis, seemingly indicated by the form of the 

 nasal bones, would refer it to pachyderms. It is one of the most remark- 

 able and extraordinary fossils hitherto discovered i n the Si valic Mountains. 

 The size of the head approaches that of the elephant, and hence we 

 conclude that the species to which it belongs was nearly of the bulk of that 

 proboscidian. 



Another extinct genus is indicated, but not yet sufficiently known, which 

 seems to be intermediate between Sivatherium and Camelopardalis proper, 

 or the giraffe. A skull of this was found in the island of Perim in the 

 Gulf of Cambay. 



Fam. 3. MoscHiD^E. A very small famil}", represented in the actual 

 fauna by a single genus, differing from the ordinar}^ ruminants by the 

 complete absence of horns in both sexes. The incisors as in the following 

 are wanting above, and are eight in number below. 



The genus Ifoschus is provided in the upper jaw with a long canine, 

 directed downwards and backwards. The lachrymal holes are wanting, as 

 in the giraffe; but there are posterior claws very much developed. The 

 species inhabit the highest mountains from the Altai to Java. They are 

 remarkably light and elegant animals. The most common species, the 

 musk, M. moschiferus {pi. 108, fig. 4), celebrated for a well known, strong 

 perfume, which it carries in a membranous pouch under the tail, and whose 

 medicinal qualities are much esteemed, is of the size of a goat, has scarcely 

 any tail, and is covered with hairs so coarse and brittle that they might be 

 termed spines. Its habits are solitary and nocturnal ; it is of an extreme 

 timidity. The other species have no musk pouch, and are the smallest and 

 most elegant of all the ruminants. 



Fossil remains of several species were discovered in the middle and 

 upper tertiary beds of Europe and Asia, but the European are not well 

 determined. 



The genus Dremotlierium is known only in a fossil state, the fragments of 

 which were found in the fresh water tertiary strata of Auverg]A(^rance), 

 differing from Moschus in the absence of the canine teeth. Among these 

 numerous remains there seem to be several species, two of which have 

 already been described. 



In the following ruminants, in the male at least, there are two horns ; 

 that is to say, prominences of the frontal bones, which are not found in any 

 other family of mammals. 



In some, these prominences are covered with an elastic sheath, composed 

 as it were of agglutinated hairs, which increase by layers during life. The 

 substance of this sheath is the horn, properly so called, and the sheath itself 

 652 



