.FIFTH TERTIA11Y PERIOD. 



Fig> 



50 



514. Although the western part of Europe, including France 

 and part of Switzerland, were no longer submerged by the sea, 

 sheets of fresh water existed in certain places. Thus, according 

 to M. Beudant, a lake existed in France, extending north and 

 south from Langres to Valence, fig. 193, and a similar one in 

 Provence, between Sisteron and Verdon. The channel of Alsace, 

 also, according to this geo- 



legist, still communicated 

 with the ocean, and that 

 of Piedmont, commencing 

 from 2fice and Genoa, was 

 connected with the seas 

 which washed the Apen- 

 nines. 



515. The seas of this 

 period were peopled with 

 the same generic forms as 

 in the preceding, with the 

 addition, however, of some 

 new genera of fishes, such 

 as the Gobius (gudgeon), 

 Esox (pike), Cobitis (loach), 

 Aspius (Way), and Tinea 

 (tench). 



516. The terrestrial fauna included a vast variety of forms, 

 remarkable by their proportions and characters. Among the 

 Mammifers were the Glyptodon, fig. 183, Megatherium, fig. 194, 

 Megalonyx, Mylodon, fig. 195, and Mastodon, all of which are 

 extinct. Among the genera which have since reappeared under 

 other specific forms were elephants, fig. 196, hippopotami, camels, 

 giraffes, horses, stags, fig. 197, p. 145, armadilloes, fig-. 198, and 

 sloths. 



517. Among the birds were included genera of which the 

 following are types, the vulture, eagle, swallow, woodpecker, 

 chat, annabate, lark, moth-hunter, cuckoo, parrot, pheasant, 

 common fowl, guinea-fowl, flamingo, horned-owl (hibou), rail, 

 corncrake, goose, loon, duck, gull, grabe. 



518. Among the reptiles of this period must especially be 

 noticed the celebrated gigantic Salamander, fig. 199, found in. the 

 lacustrine limestone of OEningen. The first specimen of this 

 fossil which was discovered obtained much notoriety from having 

 been described as a human skeleton, under the fanciful name of 

 Homo diluvii testisa, man who was witness of the deluge. 

 Cuvier examined this specimen, and ascertained it to be the 

 remains of a species of aquatic salamander. Other specimens of 



1ST 



