238 THE MAMMALIA. 



the conclusion that the molars of the older masto- 

 dons originated from those of the Dinotherium by 

 the loss of one or more of the front milk-teeth as the 

 result of the strengthening of the true molars. But 

 as the known Dinotheridse and the earlier masto- 

 dons occur in almost the same geological horizons, 

 the supposed descent cannot, of course, signify that 

 Dinotherium giganteum had changed into the Mas- 

 todon angustidens, but only indicates the way 

 where and how the mastodons have originated 

 from ancestors of the Dinotherium species. 



As is evident from Weinsheimer's classification ! 

 our latest authority for the species remains of 

 the Dinotherium, and more especially molars and 

 lower jawbones, are found in various parts of the 

 Old World ; but in all cases, only in the Tertiary 

 deposits, and in no case higher than in the Upper 

 Miocene strata ; it ranged from France as far as 

 India. In England no traces of it have been 

 found, and its southern limit in Europe is Greece 

 (Pikermi). Notwithstanding the different forms 

 and sizes of the teeth according to which fifteen 

 species have been distinguished still, owing to 

 the transitions met with everywhere, we are in- 



1 Weinsheimer, Ueber Dinotherium giganteum, K, Berlin, 

 1883. 



