326 



parts of Siberia ; but sufficient is not yet known of the situation in which 

 they are found, to allow of the ascertaining of the nature and comparative 

 age of the beds in which they are found. Arguing upon what is known 

 respecting these fossils, M. Cuvier concludes, that the}^ are cotemporary 

 with the elephant with long alveoli, and with the rhinoceros with a long 

 skull. This he however admits cannot be received as cert : in, until we 

 obtain more exact accounts respecting the places in which they were 

 found. 



To M . Pallas we are likewise indebted for the knowledge of another ' 

 species of fossil skulls found in Siberia. Of these he found only two : one 

 on the borders of the Ob, and the other on the side of Tuadra. Nov. Com.. 

 Pelrop. xin. -p. 601. These skulls are chiefly characterized by the near 

 approximation of the bases of the horns. M. Pallas, at first, suspected 

 that these skulls were similar to those of the buffalo of the Cape ; but 

 soon after found reason to attribute them rather to the musk-ox (Bos mos- 

 chatus) of Canada. M. Cuvier is fully disposed to concur with M. Pal- 

 las in his last opinion. 



Admitting the identity of- these skulls with those of the musked ox of 

 America, Cuvier observes, that it should be remarked that they are in a 

 relative position very different from that of the other fossil bones of that 

 country. The only analogues with these latter, which it is supposed that 

 we have found, are in the torrid zone, &c. : but the musk-ox dwells in the 

 frigid zone. It is therefore, he thinks, probable, that if these skulls ac- 

 tually belong to this animal, they will be found to have been deposited 

 in depths, and in beds, very different from those which have furnished the 

 bones of elephants, rhinoceroses, and large buffaloes. 



Reviewing these facts, relative to the remains of* ruminants found in 

 alluvial tracts, M. Cuvier offers the following remarks. 



These remains, as well of the stags as of the oxen, appear to be refer- 

 able to two classes, the unknown and the known ruminants. In the first 

 class he places the Irish ' elk ; the small stag, with slender horns, of 

 Etampes ; the stag of Scania ; and the large buffalo of Siberia : in 'the 



