EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION 25 



One of them, Phenacodus, was called by its 

 discoverer, Professor E. D. Cope, a " five-toed 

 horse," but this is not to be taken too literally. 

 " The first undoubted horse-like animal 

 appearing in the rocks of North America is a 

 little creature not more than eleven inches 

 high, known to science as Eohippus. This 

 interesting animal had already made a long 

 stride in the direction of the modern horse, as 

 the number of toes is now reduced to four in 

 front and three behind, and the bones of the 

 wrist and ankle have shifted so as to interlock, 

 which greatly strengthens the foot." It seems 

 that Eohippus was also represented in Britain, 

 and it is possible that migrants by way of Asia 

 and what is now the Behring Strait started 

 the American stock. Apparently more primi- 

 tive than Eohippus is the " coney -like crea- 

 ture " Hyracotherium, but only the skull is 

 known. " Commencing with the Hyraco- 

 therium," Dr. Matthew writes, " twelve stages 

 have been recognized from as many successive 

 formations, showing the gradual evolution of 

 the race into its modern form; and each stage 

 is characteristic of its particular geological 

 horizon. Besides the main line of descent 

 which led into the modern horses and zebras, 

 there were several collateral branches which 

 have left no descendants." 



