136 



HUNTING EXTINCT ANIMALS 



ing, such molars being associated with the eating of twigs 

 and branches of trees, where the amount of woody material 

 is great in comparison with the available food. 



The neck vertebrae with this specimen are very short 

 and stout, the leg bones excessively heavy and short, 



Skull of Pyrotherium 

 One-fifth natural size 



with the hind leg bones the longer. Roughly, the build 

 of the animals would suggest such a form as the rhinoceros 

 except that it would be considerably more clumsy. The 

 form is one which has caused much difference of opinion. 

 As stated it has been assigned to elephants, marsupials 

 and now is relegated to the Toxodonts. It is usually 

 considered the test of the Pyrotherium beds, though others 

 of the associated animals have been found without any 

 Pyrotherium. The discussion with the most bitterness, 

 however, has been as to whether it occurred in the Guar- 

 antic formation with the dinosaurs. Ameghino has per- 

 sisted that the two were associated. Several collectors 

 have tried to find the two associated, and failed. I be- 



