Order 7. PACHYDERMA.TA. 121 



. . ^ . 



Eleven or twelve species are already known. At Paris alone, we nave found one the size of a Horse, another 

 that of a Tapir, and a third of a small Sheep : the bones of a species nearly equalling the Rhinoceros in size 

 have been met with in the neig-hbourhood of Orleans. These animals appear to have frequented the borders 

 of lakes and marshes, for the deposits which enclose their remains contain also those of freshwater shells. (See 

 my OisemcTU fossiles, tom. iii.) 



The Lophiodons — 



Form another extinct genus, which appears to have been closely allied to the preceding one ; but the 

 inferior incisors of which exhibit transverse ridges. Ten or twelve species have been exhumed from 

 the same ancient freshwater deposits that have yielded the Paljeotheriums. 

 To these last genera succeeds that of 



The Tapirs (^Tapir, Lin.), — 



Wherein the twenty-seven molars, before they are worn, present transverse and rectilinear ridges ; 

 there are six incisors and two canines in each jaw, separated from the molars by a wide interval. The 

 nose assumes the form of a short fleshy trunk ; and the fore-feet have each four toes, the hinder 

 but three. 



For a long while only one species was known, that of America (T. americanus, Lin.), which is the size of a small 

 Ass, with a brown and almost naked skin, a short tail, and fleshy neck, that forms a crest at the nape. It is 

 common in humid places and along the rivers of the warm parts of America, where its flesh is eaten. The young 

 are spotted with white like the fawns of a Stag. Within a few years, a second species has been discovered in the 

 Eastern Continent (T. i/irficui), of larger size than the other, and brown-black, with the back greyish white. It 

 ■nhabits the forests of the Malay peninsula, the island of Sumatra, &c. Still more recently, Dr. Roulin has dis- 

 covered in the Cordilleras a third species, of a black colour, and covered with thick hair ; the bones of its nose 

 are more elongated, a particular in which it somewhat approximates the Palaeotheiiums. 



There have also been found in Europe some fossil bones of Tapirs, and, among the rest, those of a gigantic 

 species approaching the Elephant in size (T. giganteus, Cuv., Oss. foss.) " ITie lower jaw of this huge animal 

 has been obtained by M. Schleyermacher, and proves to possess enormous canines, which must have projected 

 from the moutli, [and are directed downwards] : it should therefore form a separate genus. Its size may have 

 been greater than that of the Elephant by one half. [A more perfect head of this extraordinary species, the largest 

 of the Pachiidermata hitherto discovered, has been lately disentombed in Germany, and described by Prof. Kaup. 

 With two other species, successively smaller, it now composes the genus Deinotherium, the members of which are 

 suspected by Blainville and other anatomists to have been aquatic animals, destitute of posterior extremities, like 

 the Dugongs and Manati.] 



The third family of Pachydermata, or of hoofed animals that do not ruminate, consists 

 of the 



SOLIDUNGULA, 



Or quadrupeds with only one apparent toe and a single hoof to each foot, although beneath 

 the skin, on each side of their metacarpus and metatarsus, there are appendices {stylets) 

 which represent two lateral toes. But one genus of them is known, that of 



The Horses {Equus, Lin.). 



There are six incisors to each jaw, which, during youth, have their crowns furrowed with a groove, 

 and six molars on each side above and below, with square crowns, marked by laminae of enamel which 

 penetrate them, with four crescents, besides which there is a small disk on the inner border of those 

 above. The males have in addition two small canines in their upper jaw, and sometimes in both, 

 which are always wanting in the females. Between these canines and the first molar, there is a wide 

 space which corresponds with the angle of the Ups, where the bit is placed, by which alone Man has 

 been enabled to subdue these powerful quadrupeds. Their stomach is simple and middle-sized ; but 

 their intestines are very long, and ccecum enormous. The teats are situate between the thighs. 



The Horse (JS. caballtis, Lin.).— This noble associate of Man in the chase, in war, and in the labours of agricul- 

 ture, arts and commerce, is the most important and carefully tended of domestic animals. It does not appear to 

 exist in the wild state, excepting in those countries where the offspring of tame individuals have been suffered to 

 run wild, as in Tartary and America, where they live in troops, each conducted and defended by an old male. 

 The young males, expelled as soon as they Lave attained the age of puberty, follow the troop at a distance, until 

 they have attracted some of the younger mares. 



In a state of servitude, the colt continues sucking for six or seven months, and the sexes are separated at two 

 years at three they are first handled and accustomed to some management, and at four saddled and motmted, 

 »t whjch age they can propagate without injuring themselves. The oeriod of gestation is eleven months. 



