THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. g^ 



really were the dens of Hyxnas, 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 Hyama's teeth. 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. It is further 

 interesting to remark that, as at the pre- 

 sent time we only find the larger Carni- 

 vora existing in countries inhabited by 

 large species of herbivorous quadrupeds, 

 on which they may prey, so in former 

 epochs we never found the one set of 

 races present without the other : the her- 

 bivorous to supply the carnivorous with 

 food ; the Carnivora to restrain the other- 

 wise excessive multiplication of the Hcr- 

 bivora, and to remove their decomposing 

 remains from the surface of the earth." 

 The Elephant, although gigantic in size, 

 is mild and docile, and rarely uses its 

 power of injury unless greatly irritated. 

 They are very intelligent, and seem to 

 remember kindness as well as cruelty*. AFR i CAN ELEPHANT. 

 Their teeth are adapted entirely to vege- 

 table food ; the enamel, or hard portion, instead of cover- 

 ing the whole surface, is arranged in vertical plates, 

 with the softer portions of the substance of the tooth 



* In a fissure recently laid open on Durdham Down, Bristol, were found, 

 besides other remains, teeth of hysenas as much surpassing those of the 

 largest tiger now existing, as these last exceed those of the largest hyaena. 



p . 



LAST LOWER TOOTH 



