274 THEORY OF THE EARTH. 



the size of the roe, but of a different species, col- 

 lected among the palaeotheria of Orleans*; and 

 of one or two other small fragments, from Swit- 

 zerland, which, however, are perhaps of doubtful 

 origin. 



But our pachyderm ata have not for all this 

 been the only inhabitants of the countries in 

 which they lived. In our gypsum deposits, at 

 least, we find along with them carnivora, glires, 

 several sorts of birds, crocodiles, and tortoises; 

 and these two latter genera also accompany them 

 in the molasse sandstones and marly deposits of 

 the middle and south of France. 



At the head of the carnivora, I place a Bat, 

 very recently discovered at Montmartre, and which 

 belongs to the proper genus Vespertilio -K The 

 existence of this genus, at an epoch so remote, is 

 so much the more surprising, that, neither in this 

 formation, nor in those which have succeeded it, 

 have I seen any other trace, either of cheiroptera 

 or of quadrumana : no bone or tooth of either 

 monkey or maki has ever presented itself to me, 

 in the course of my long researches. 



* " Researches," vol. iv. p. ] 03. 



t I am indebted for the knowledge of this animal to the 

 Count de Bournon ; and as I have not described it in my 

 great work, I have given a figure of it here. See Plate II. 

 figs. 1 and 2. 



