LETTER XXIII. 



FOSSIL REMAINS OF RUMINANTIA FOSSIL ELK OF IRELAND ....... 



STAGS, &C OX, BUFFALO, AUROCH, &C. 



1 HE family of Ruminantia, or Bisulca, of Dumeril, the order of Pecora> 

 of Linnaeus, are distinguished by two toes and two hoofs; the hoof being, as 

 it were, cloven. The genera are : 1, Camelus ; 2. Moschus; 3. Cervus; 

 4. Camelo-pardalis ; 5. Antilope; 6. Capra ; 7. Ovis; 8. Bos<> 



It is justly observed by Cuvier, that the study of the fossils of this 

 family, either osteologically or geologically, is exceedingly difficult. The 

 general resemblance to each other of the animals of this family is so 

 great, that the several genera can only be characterized by parts, such 

 as horns; which, from their frequently varying with age, sex, and 

 climate, must, in their fossil and mutilated states, be very uncertain 

 guides. The difficulties which occur, whilst considering them geolo- 

 gically, also applies to the fossil remains of the horse. The remains of 

 the ruminants, except those of the Irish elk, and perhaps of some species 

 of Cervus, do not appear to differ from the corresponding parts of the ani- 

 mals of our climates and our times; a circumstance in which they will 

 be found to vary much from the remains of other families. The situa- 

 tions in which they are found appear also to be difficult to account 

 for. Most frequently they are found in beds which appear to be of the 

 more recent alluvial formation; but sometimes they are also found in 

 those alluvial beds which, from their containing the remains of the ele- 



VOL. in* s $ 



