ORGANIC REMAINS. 



331 



anj more perfect forms with new specific distinc- 

 tions ; we look upon the last theory as absurd, and 

 with Mr Lyell, we are distinctly of opinion, " that 

 species have a real existence in nature, and that each 

 was endowed, at the time of its creation, with the 

 attributes and organization by which it is now dis- 

 tinguished," whether in a fossil or recent state ; and 

 M. de la Beche says, " there can be no doubt that 

 many plants can adapt themselves to altered condi- 

 tions, and many animals accommodate themselves to 

 different climates ; but when we view the subject 

 generally, and allow full importance to numerous 

 exceptions, terrestrial plants and animals seem in- 

 tended to fill the situations they occupy, as these were 

 fitted for them; they appear created as the conditions 

 arose, the latter not causing a modification in previ- 

 ously existing forms productive of new species." 



Although the whole species of Fossil Organic Re- 

 mains, which have been found in the older forma- 

 tions, are specifically distinct from existing indivi- 

 duals, yet none of their characters are such as to 

 require the institution of a new class for their recep- 

 tion ; for although many of them differ in their ge- 

 neric distinctions, yet the same general plan of struc- 

 ture connects them with one or other of these classes, 

 which, we liave said, seem to have been at first 

 created. 



CLASS I. 



FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 

 ORDER I. BIMANA, MAN. 



We beg to refer to the characters of this class and its orders, 

 inder the article Mammalia. 



In all the formations, there has not been a single case dis- 

 covered of the remains of the human race; and we must there- 

 fore conclude, that the numerous examples which we have of 

 animal remains in the earth's strata, belong to races of beings 

 which existed and died before the creation of man. 



There is one example of the remains of man being found 

 imbedded in a rock, which, however, is no proof against the 

 lact we have just stated. There is a number of scattered human 

 bones which were detected in a limestone rock, on the shore of 

 the island of Guadaloupe. But we have no reason for supposing 

 these bones to be of high antiquity, because the rock in which 

 they occurred is composed. of consolidated sand, and contains 

 shells of species now inhabiting the, surrounding sea and land, 

 as well as fragments of pottery, arrows, and hatchets of stone. 

 An entire skeleton was found at one spot, which is now pre- 

 served in the British museum. This was laid out in the usual 

 position of burial ; and another was found in the softer sand- 

 stone, and appeared to have been buried in the sitting posture, 

 customary among the Caribs. The bodies thus differently in- 

 terred may have belonged to two different tribes. General 

 Ernouf also explains the occurrence of the scattered bones, by 

 reference to a tradition of a battle and massacre on this spot, of 

 a tribe of Gallibis by the Caribs, about the year 1110. These 

 scattered bones of the massacred Gallibis were probably covered, 

 by tlie action of the sea, with sand, which soon after became 

 converted into solid stone. Examples of stone of this kind 

 being formed in a very few years, are very frequent. On the 

 west coast of Ireland, near Kilenny harbour, a sand bank, which 

 is surrounded by the sea at high water, is at this time employed 

 by the natives as a place of interment. 



There have also been found in caverns in the vicinity of Liege, 

 various bones of the human species, supposed by some to have 

 belonged to individuals whose existence was coeval with the 

 bones of other mammalia, discovered in the same locality. 

 These human bones, however, have been seen, and carefully 

 examined, by professor Buckland, and he is distinctly of opinion 

 that they do not belong to a date by any means so ancient as 

 those of the quadrupeds. Associated with these human bones 

 are rudely formed flint knives, as well as other implements of 

 bone and flint, which must have been left there by uncivilized 

 tribes, who have inhabited the caverns. The human bones, 

 beside*, are in a much better state of preservation than the 

 animal remains. We may, therefore, safely uffirm, that man 

 huii uot yet been discovered in a true fossil state. 



ORDER II. QUADRUMANA, APES AND 

 MONKEYS. 



Not a single species of quadrumanous animals has been 

 t'jund in a fossil state. 



ORDER III. CARNASSIERS, BATS, &c. 



B.-tts have been found in the gypsum of the Paris basin. 



ORDER IV. INSECTIVORA. 



FAMILY II. CARNIVORA. 



In this family there have been discovered a large wolf, differ* 

 ing from any existing species; a lox, a large species of coati 

 (of the genus Nasua) found only in a recent state in the warm 

 climates of America; a racoon and gennet. All these have 

 also been detected in the gypsum of Paris. 



In the cave at Kirkdale, professor Buckland discovered l ho 

 bones of hyaenas, tigers, and bears. All the bones and teeth cf 

 these fossil animals differ materially from the existing races 

 We have given examples of some of these. In plate 65, fig. 1, 

 is the hindmost grinder of the upper jaw of the bear, fi<. 2 the 

 foremost upper grinder, fig. 3 the hindmost grinder of the lower 

 jaw, fig. 4 the middle upper grinder, and fig. 5 the foremost 

 lower one. Fig. 7 the lower jaw of the hyaena. This species 

 must have been very numerous, for it is found not only in the 

 caverns, but also in the alluvial strata, associated with bones of 

 extinct elephants. A species of hyaena, now extinct, must also 

 have existed in different parts of Germany, as bones of it have 

 been found in the cave of Gaylenreutli, in the sand hi!, near 

 Kicli.-t uit, and also in Baumann's Hohle, and in other spots, as 

 well as in France. Fig. 30 is another fossil tooth of the hyaena, 

 probably of a different species from those figured above. Fig. 

 28 is the molar tooth of a wolf, fig. 31 is the tusk of a fox, and fig. 

 32 is the great molar tooth of the same; fig. 29 is the molar tooth 

 of a tiger. The supposed antediluvian fissures of rocks, chiefly 

 in the mountain limestone, red sand-stone, and onlit , are the 

 principal receptacles where these remains are found ; fig. 15, 

 cariue of a tiger. 



ORDER V MARSUPIAL! A, OPOSSUMS, &o. 



A small opossum , nearly allied to the existing North Ameri- 

 can species, has been detected in the gypsum of Paris. The 

 fossil genera are very numerous of this order. 



ORDER VI. RODENTIA, BEAVERS, &c. 



Animals of this order have been ascertained in the Pliocene 

 series, as well as in the preceding period. PI. 65, fig. 33, the 

 molar teeth of a rabbit ; fig. 34 the molar tooth of a water-rat ; 

 and fig. 85, the incisors of the same. 



ORDER VII. EDENTATA. 



One of the most remarkable animals of this order is the great 

 Megathurium (M. Cuvieri) pi. 65, fig. 6. See Mammalia, page 

 650, and Megathurium. 



ORDER VIII. PACHYDERMATA. 



In the Calcaire Grossier of Paris, there are some examples 

 of the occurrence of the remains of Palaeotherium ; but, in the 

 first great fresh water formations of the Eocene period, there 

 have been discovered nearly fifty extinct species of mammalia, 

 most of which belong to the Pachydermata, and are of the or- 

 ders Palaeotherium, Anoplotherium, I.ophiodon, Anthracothe- 

 rium, Cheroptomus, ana Adopis. PI. 65, fig. 38. The little 

 Palaeotherium, pi. 65, fig. 12, exhibits the outer surface of the 

 fourth molar tooth of the lower jaw of the PaUeotherium; fig. 

 13 the inner surface. PI. 52, fig. 43, the greater Anoplotherium, 

 as it is supposed to have been with its muscles ; and pi. 65, fig. 

 20, represents the skeleton of the common species (A. Com- 

 mune'); fig. 10 the anti-penultimate lower grinder of the Ano- 

 plotherium ; fig. 1 1 the grinder which stands before the fore- 

 going. We have given the generic characters of these in Mam- 

 malia, page 651. 



GENUS LOPHIODON. 



The animals of this genus are nearly allied to the topier and 

 rhinoceros, and in some points to the hippopotamus, and are 

 nearly connected with the Palaeotherium and Anoplotherium. 

 Fifteen species of this genus have been ascertained. 



GENUS ANT'HRACOTHERIUM. 



These animals are so designated, from having been first met 

 with in the Tertiary coal, or lignite of Cadibona, in Liguria. 

 Some of the species approximate closely to the hog, and others 

 are nearly allied to the hippopotamus. 



GENUS CHEROPTOMUS. 



This animal was most nearly connected with the hogs, and 

 somewhat approaching to the Babirous-a, forming a connecting 

 link between the Anoplotherium and Peccary, the Dicotyles of 

 Cuvier. 



GENUS ADOPIS. 



This animal must have been formed nearly like the hedgehog, 

 but thrice the M/>> of that creature, and appears to have been 

 the connecting link between the Pachydermata and the Insec- 

 tivorous Carnivora. 



GENUS MASTODON. 



f<2e Mammalia and Mastodon. PI. 92, fig. 42. 



