236 GEOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OP CARNIVORA. 



much more extensively ; that Lions and Tigers, of greater bulk 

 than any at present existing, formerly roamed over the plains, 

 and inhabited the jungles of Europe, and even of our own country ; 

 and that gigantic Hyaenas and enormous Bears dwelt in the 

 caves, which occur so frequently in our limestone rocks, dragging 

 thither the carcasses of the animals they had slaughtered, and 

 prowling about at night, with glaring eyes, and savage howls, in 

 search of prey.* In many of these caves are now found vast 

 heaps of bones of the animals thus destroyed, which must have 

 accumulated during many years ; together with the bones of the 

 rapacious beasts which had their dwelling there ; and it is a 

 remarkable proof that these caves really were the dens of Hyaenas, 

 and that the collections of bones found in them were not merely 

 washed into their entrances by some great convulsion which 

 swept these races from this part of our globe, that many of the 

 bones of the Oxen, Antelopes, Deer, &c., which accompany 

 them, bear the distinct marks of the Hyaena's teeth; and that the 

 fossilised excrements of these last animals (which, like those of 

 other Carnivora, are nearly white, consisting of little else than 

 bone-earth,) have been clearly recognised. The existence of 

 these gigantic Carnivora in what are now the temperate regions 

 of the globe, seems clearly to indicate that the climate of these 

 parts must have been formerly much warmer than at present ; a 

 conclusion which is confirmed by many other circumstances. (See 

 Treatise on GEOLOGY). It is further interesting to remark, that 

 as, at the present time, we only find the larger Carnivora 

 existing in countries inhabited by large species of Herbivorous 

 quadrupeds, on which they may prey, so, in former epochs, we 

 never find the one set of races present without the other ; the 

 Herbivorous to supply the Carnivora with food, the Carnivora 

 to restrain the otherwise excessive multiplication of the Herbivora, 

 and to remove their decomposing remains from the surface of 

 the earth. 



* In a fissure recently laid open on Durdliam Down, near Bristol, are found, 

 besides numerous other remains, teeth of Hyaenas, as much surpassing in size those 

 of the largest Tiger now existing, as these last exceed those of the largest Hyaena. 



