124 EVOLUTION IN THE PAST 



rodent-like incisors. These teeth were, no doubt, being 

 submitted to ever-increasing demands, and their rapid 

 wearing away necessitated a new economy. 



Eocene rodents were in a somewhat mixed condition of 

 development, but dormice and squirrels were, so to speak, 

 coming out of the hotch-potch. 



EDENTATES Edentates of somewhat modern aspect were also appearing. 

 The animals, indeed, save for the absence of a bony shield, 

 seem to have closely resembled armadillos now living 

 (Metacheiromysis, N.A.). 



ELEPHANTS A glance must now be taken at Africa, where some highly 

 important animals were in process of evolution. Valuable 

 knowledge on this subject has been obtained through the 

 exertions of Mr. Beadnell, Dr. C. W. Andrews, of the British 

 Museum, and other explorers. 



From discoveries which he made in 1901 near Lake Moeris 

 in the Fayum Desert (Egypt), Dr. Andrews has shown that 

 in mid-Eocene times forerunners of elephants were living in 

 Africa (Moeritherium). These interesting quadrupeds stood 

 about three feet at the shoulder ; and were long enough in 

 the neck to get their heads to the ground. Their sloping 

 faces were certainly unlike the almost vertical face of living 

 elephants ; but the bones of the skull were falling into position 

 in a manner peculiar to proboscideans ; and there was at 

 least promise of a trunk. Certain of the incisor teeth in the 

 upper jaw were developed into small tusks ; and on the front 

 part of the lower jaw a pair of tusk-like teeth protruded. 

 The cheek teeth were much of the pattern of those of 

 elephants of later times. 



These " beasts of Moeris," no doubt, wandered about in 

 herds ; were quite at home in the water ; and subsisted 

 chiefly on marsh and aquatic vegetation. 



They had well-developed brains for their size ; and their 

 intelligence was probably much above the average of the 

 time. 



It is a matter of no small interest to have these primitive 

 forms brought into view ; and the knowledge gained of 

 elephants " in the making " does not stop here. In later 

 Eocene times " beasts of Moeris " were still living in Egypt ; 



