278 THE MAMMALIA. 



In order to illustrate our remarks we have 

 drawn up the following piece of pedigree : 



Viverrine dogs (Cynodictis) 



I 



Plesictis 



I 

 Stenoplesictis 



Proselurus Palseoprionodon 



I i 



Pseudielurus WEASELS 



CATS 



I 

 Sabre-toothed tiger 



The above is the shortest way of expressing the 

 result of a long series of the most careful com- 

 parison of facts, and has as much right in claiming 

 to be credited as any other conclusion deduced from 

 scientific investigations, in whatever province the 

 facts have been gathered. When it is admitted that 

 the philologist can arrange the age, connection, and 

 succession of manuscripts, in a tabular form, from 

 the character of the writing, from the use of signs 



climbing, while in the other animals they would become more 

 and more reduced. Naturally enough we do not know the 

 particulars connected with this reduction. But should we suc- 

 ceed in establishing the want or a greater reduction of the 

 clavicle in one of the branch families in the above pedigree 

 (arranged according to the development of their dentition) our 

 whole arrangement would of course collapse. 



