28 



VERTEBRATA. 



Lophiodons and the huge Proboscidians." The scapula resembles that of a 

 Mole. The skull is characterized by a very flat occipital bone (approximating 

 in form the occiput of Cetacea), large nasal aperture opening above, and large 

 suborbital fossfe, which, together with the form of the nose, seem to indicate 

 the presence of a short proboscis. The enormous down-curving tusks are, in 

 fact, two huge recurved incisors implanted in a prolongation of the symphysis 

 of the lower jaw. They were retained in both sexes. " They were probably 

 useful (says Ansted) as pickaxes, enabling the monster to dig for succulent 

 vegetable food by day, while, perhaps, at night thej^ could be attached like 

 anchors to the banks of the river or lake in wjiich the animal habitually 

 dwelt." Cuvier and Kaup calculated that the Dinotherium must have attained 

 the extraordinary length of eighteen feet. Its body, doubtless, resembled that 

 of the Hippopotamus, being little raised above the ground, although the huge 

 columns which formed its legs are supposed to have been nearly ten feet in 

 length. Remains of this genus have been found in the Miocene and Pliocene 

 deposits of Germany, France, Austria, Greece, India and Perim Island, asso- 

 ciated with the Hippopotamus, Horse, Ox, Antelope, Ape, Hog, Dog, Wolf, 

 Cat, Lamantin, Morse,. Sea-Calf and Dolphin — all of extinct species. This 

 magnificent fossil, the head of the Dinotherium gigantevm, was discovered by 

 Dr. Klipstein, near Eppelsheim, Rhine Valley, in a bed of Pliocene sand and 

 marl, containing marine shells, and is now in the Museum at Darmstadt. 



Size, 4 ft. 8 in. X 4 ft. 



No. 44. [124] Dinotherium giganteum, Kaup. 



Second upper Molar, left ramus (cast). 

 The two incisors of lower jaw excepted, the 

 teeth of the Dinotherium are all molars, num- 

 bering five in each ramus, and belong to the 

 two ridged type, as in the Tapir, Megatherium, 

 Kangaroos and Manatee. This tooth, from 

 the Upper Miocene at St. Jean le Vieux, 

 France, is in the Lyons Museum. 



ORDER RODENTIA. 



This order contains the smallest of the mammals, and the 

 largest number of species, and is represented in all quarters of 

 the globe. It is characterized by two long, incurved rootless in- 

 cisors in each jaw, enameled only in front, and separated by a 

 wide space from the molars. The incisors are based on perma- 

 nent pulp, and grow during life in order to compensate for the 

 rapid wear. The molars have flat crowns with transverse enam- 

 eled ridges. Canines are never present. The hind legs are 

 generally much longer than the anterior pair; and, excepting the 



