740 THE CARNIVORES 



that in these animals we have a direct connecting link between the Marsupials and 

 the existing land Carnivores. The best-known representatives of this group in 

 Europe have been described under the names of Hyanodon and Pterodon; and while 

 some of the species were no larger than a fox, others attained dimensions nearly or 

 fully equal to those of a brown bear. There is little doubt that from some of these 

 primitive Carnivores and more especially the North- American forms known as 

 Miacis the majority of the existing land Carnivores are descended. It is note- 

 worthy that an American and European genus known as Palceonictis shows a remark- 

 able gradation in the structure of its teeth toward the cats; although it is rather 

 difficult to believe that the cats are directly derived from this primitive form. 



