042 ZOOLOGY 



SECT. XIV 



being the great Edentates (Megatherium, Mylodon, Glyptodon, &c.) 

 of South America, the gigantic Marsupials (Diprotodon,Nototherium) 

 of Australia, and the great flightless Birds (Dinornis, <&pyornis, 

 &c.) of Madagascar and New Zealand. Nesopithecus, which occurs 

 in the Pleistocene of Madagascar, is either a Monkey-like Lemur 

 or a true Monkey : if it be the latter, its occurrence indicates a 

 closer affinity between that island and Africa than their existing 

 faume would indicate. Pithecanthropus, found in beds of late 

 Pliocene or early Pleistocene age in Java, was perhaps a connect- 

 ing link between the other Anthropoids and Man. 



The Pleistocene passes insensibly into the Recent period, which 

 has also witnessed some important zoological changes, especially 

 the extinction of many interesting animal forms, for the most part 

 by human agency. Among these may be particularly noticed 

 Steller's Sea-cow (Rhytina), the Great Auk, the Dodo and Solitaire, 

 several flightless Rails (Aptornis, Notornis, Aphanctptcryx, &c.), 

 the Philip Island Parrot, and, above all, the whole great race of 

 Moas. 



