492 



UNGULATES. 



eastwards from the latter continent into Alaska. It has, indeed, been stated that 

 certain wild horses found in the Argentine in 1530 could not have been introduced, 

 and must accordingly have been indigenous. Even, however, if this be so (and the 

 story is denied by Dr. Trouessart), there is no evidence to show that the horses in 

 question were identical with E. caballus, of which fossil remains appear to be 

 unknown in the New World south of Alaska. 



Fossilised remains of horses are extremely common in the brick-earths, cavern- 

 deposits, etc., of England and the Continent, and since these are indistinguishable 

 from the teeth and bones of the existing species, it may be pretty confidently con- 

 sidered thev indicate the former existence of that animal in a wild state. And it 



ENGLISH RACE-HORSE (" DONCASTER "). 



may be observed that the researches of Dr. Nehring have afforded reason to believe 

 that during part of the Pleistocene period there existed in Western Europe a 

 condition very similar to that now obtaining in the Russian steppes, where wild 

 horses now live. Further evidence of the identity of these Pleistocene horses with 

 the living species is afforded by certain rude drawings incised on fragments of slate, 

 bone, or antler, which have come down to us from the ancient inhabitants of Europe 

 during the later Stone Implement period. These drawings show that the Pleistocene 

 horse was a rather small, heavily -built animal, with a large head, and a rough mane 

 and tail, in all of which respects it agreed with the under-mentioned tarpan or wild 

 horse of the steppes. 



Dr. Nehring is of opinion that the wild horse of Western Europe was domesti- 

 cated and tamed by the men of the later Stone Implement period at a time when 



