256 WALKS AND TALKS. 



ized by the possession of one too, then so is that of the Protop- 

 terus which is absurd. If the high rank of the bovine foot 

 is shown by its didactyl structure, then so is that of the Am- 

 phi-u'ma which is absurd. I hold that man's limb is superior 

 because U lias adhered to the primitive ti/pe; it has undergone no 

 degeneration. Because it has adhered structurally to the primi- 

 tive type, it has been capable of its wonderful diversification 

 of function, and admirable subserviency to the ends of high 

 intelligence. 



One of the first figures to greet us on our entering Cseno- 

 zoic times is Co^rypti-o-don, one of the best examples of a gen- 

 eralized type. As large as a Malayan tapir, with similar short 

 legs, it had no other characters of the tapir, or of other 

 hoofed quadrupeds (Ungulates). It had the full number of 

 the different sorts of teeth; five toes on each foot; nose not 

 adapted for work as in the tapir, hog, and elephant ; canine 

 teeth prominent as in hogs and Carnivores. The feet were 

 somewhat elephant-like, and the head, anterior to the eyes, 

 was long, as in the horse, and the whole range of incisors was 

 horse-like. Here, also was Hy-racti'-y-us, more tapir-like, with 

 four toes in front and three behind. Here further, were two 

 forms more related to the horse, but only as large as a fox 

 Eo-hip'^pus (Dawn-horse) and 0-ro-hip' -pus (Mountain-horse). 

 They had four perfect toes in front and three behind ; but in 

 spite of the number of toes, they showed their affinities with 

 the horse in several particulars of structure of the leg and 

 foot-bones and in the teeth. 



A little later, the forms of huge and curious mammals 

 crowd on our view. TU-lo-tfie'-ri-um (Biting-beast) had enor- 

 mous, long incisors, two in number, much like the beaver; 

 but it was not a real Rodent, or gnawer. Di-noc'-e-ras (Fear- 

 ful-horn) was like an elephant in size. It had short legs and 

 perhaps three pairs of horns one on the snout, one on the 

 cheeks, and one on the forehead. These must have given 

 the creature a grotesque and fierce aspect. Its habits appear 

 to have been like those of the Rhinoceros. It was five toed, 

 like Coryph'odon, and in other respects was related widely 



