CARNIVORA. 



60. 



scopical sections of some of the tissues could be made ; and 

 in one case even the eyes were preserved. From these speci- 

 mens we know that the body of the Mammoth was covered 

 with long woolly hair. 



Closely allied to the true Elephants are the Mastodons, 

 characterised -by the fact that the crowns of the molar teeth 

 have nipple-shaped tubercles placed in pairs (fig. 257). 

 Generally speaking, the two upper incisors formed long curved 

 tusks, as in the Elephants, but in some cases there were two 

 lower incisors as well. The various species of Mastodon all 

 belong to the later Tertiary and Post-tertiary periods. 



The last of the Proboscidea is a remarkable extinct animal, 

 the Deinotherium. This extraordinary animal has hitherto 

 only been found in Miocene de- 

 posits, and little is known of it 

 except its enormous skull. Mo- 

 lars and prsemolars were present 

 in each jaw, and the upper jaw 

 was destitute of canines and in- 

 cisors. In the lower jaw were 

 two very large tusk-like incisors, 

 which were riot directed forwards 

 as in the true Elephants, but were 

 bent abruptly downwards (fig. 2 5 8). 

 The animal must have attained an 

 enormous size, and it is probable 

 that the curved tusks were used 

 either in digging up roots or in 

 mooring the animal to the banks 

 of rivers, for it was probably aquatic or semi-aquatic in its 

 habits. It is placed by De Blainville in the Sirenia, being 

 regarded as a Dugong with tusk-like lower incisors. 



Fig. 258. Skull of Deinotherium 

 gigauteum. 



CHAPTER LXXIX. 

 CARNIVORA. 



ORDER IX. CARNIVORA. The ninth order of Mammals is 

 that of the Carnivora, comprising the Fern, or Beasts of Prey, 

 along with the old order of the Pinnipedia, or Seals and Wal- 

 ruses, these latter being now universally regarded as merely a 

 group of the Carnivora modified to lead an aquatic life. 



