1/8 EVOLUTION IN THE PAST 



earlier times. For a long time their forerunners probably 

 remained but little distinguishable from primitive antelopes ; 

 but in the earlier Pliocene goats had so far progressed as to 

 resemble species now living in the Himalayan mountain 

 ranges. Some with back-curved horns seem to have been 

 closely related to the Thar (Capra sivalensis, Hemitragus') ; 

 others, similarly horned, were forerunners apparently of 

 ibexes (C. sibirica) ; whilst yet other forms resembled, at 

 least in their straight spiral horns, the bearded Markhors 

 the champions of the goat-world (C. Falconeri). 



COAT-OXEN Other related animals that possibly had not taken to 

 a mountain life were of less pronounced development, 

 being goat-like as regards the head, but toothed as oxen 

 (Bucapra). In common with the short-necked giraffes, the 

 ruminant-toothed pig-like animals, the hornless rhinoceroses, 

 the three-toed horses, and the long-chinned, and the bent- 

 chinned elephants, these animals stood out in strange con- 

 trast with the more modernised mammals. Nor were they 

 OXEN harbingers of oxen, for animals closely allied to the living 

 Yak had already appeared (Bos sivalensis}. Primitive bison 

 were also about in herds, and small animals closely allied to 

 our domestic cattle (B. planifrons). 



ANTELOPE Whatever horned ruminants may have branched off from 

 primitive antelopes, antelope-life was well developed in 

 the linear direction. The evidence of this in Europe is more 

 than confirmed by that derived from India. Nilgai-looking 

 animals (ancestors of the cow-like short-horned antelopes 

 now living in that country) were certainly on the scene 

 (Boselaphus). Kudus and elands, more or less in an inter- 

 volved condition in Europe, were in India separately es- 

 tablished (Strepsiceros, Orias). Sable antelopes were also to 

 be seen, no longer characterised, as in the West, by strongly 

 marked affinities with the Oryx (Hippotragus). Whilst four- 

 horned antelopes (Tetraceros), hartebeests (Bubalis), and 

 small forms of water-buck (Cobus) bore further witness to 

 the varied development which antelope-life had undergone. 

 No nilgai ever seem to have left their Indian habitats ; 

 but in course of time kudus, elands, sable antelopes, harte- 

 beests, and water-buck all forsook their ancient haunts ; 



