272 GEOLOGY. 



382. Pachydermata. The most prominent of the mam- 

 mals of the early Tertiary were the pachydermatous 

 quadrupeds. Some of these animals are represented in 

 Fig. 164. The one on the right is the Palseotherium. 



Fig, 164. 



This is intermediate in shape and character between the 

 tapir and rhinoceros of the present day. There are about 

 twelve species, varying much in size, the largest being 

 of the size of a rhinoceros, the smallest about as large as 

 a sheep. The other two animals, the Anoplotherium in 

 the middle, and the Ziphodon on the left, were lighter in 

 their construction, though' having the same general char- 

 acter with the Pala30therium. These are representatives 

 of a large class of mammals that flourished in that age 

 in the forests, on the plains, and by the lake and river- 

 swamps. They were curious creatures, uniting in them- 

 selves the peculiarities of two or more animals of differ- 

 ent, even often of opposite character, such as tapir, sea- 

 cow, hog, rhinoceros, ass, camel, and antelope. 



383. Cuvier's Investigations. The remains of these 

 pachydermata have been found in great abundance in 

 the strata of what is called the Paris basin. Four fifths 

 of the fifty species of quadrupeds whose remains are 

 found there belong to this tribe, which is 'represented in 

 the present age by only four species, so different are the 

 prevalent forms of animal life now from what they were 



