V.] OLIGOCENE FAUNA. Ipl 



Under the term of lower Oligocene (the upper Eocene of 

 many writers) are included a large series of strata, such as the 

 freshwater beds of Bembridge and Hordwell in the south of 

 England, the gypsum of Montmartre near Paris, and the corre- 

 sponding black lignite beds of De'bruge in Vaucluse 1 . A consider- 

 able part of the fauna of the Quercy phosphorites of Central France 

 likewise comes under the same category, only we have here a 

 mixture of Middle and Upper Oligocene forms. And in the case 

 of the siderolites, or bone-earths of Switzerland, this admixture is 

 carried to a still greater degree, undoubted Eocene types occurring 

 with those properly characteristic of the Oligocene. In the 

 following list such genera as are found only in the phosphorites 

 have the letter P. after them; while after those peculiar to the 

 siderolites the letter S. is added; both letters being given when 

 the genera are common to the two formations. As already said, 

 only some of the better-known forms are selected. 



Among the lemuroid Primates, we have the genera Adapts 

 and Microch&rus, both of which occur in the English beds as well 

 as in the phosphorites ; these being the last European representa- 

 tives of the group. The Insectivora include Necrogymnurus (P.S.), 

 allied to the Malayan Gymnura, Amphidozotherium, together with 

 the existing genera Sorex and Talpa. More remarkable is the 

 occurrence in the phosphorites of an insectivore described as 

 Pseudorhynchocyon, which is believed to be a member of the family 

 of jumping shrews (Macroscelidida), now confined to the Ethiopian 

 region. 



The true Carnivora are represented by Eusmilus (P.), a 

 highly specialised ally of the sabre-toothed tigers, as well as by 

 the more cat-like sElurictis, and the generalised Pseudcelurus. 

 In addition to species of true civets, referred to the living genus 

 Viverra, the Viverrida include Amphictis (P.), Stenoplesictis (P.), 

 and Palaoprionodon (P.); the two latter being generalised forms 

 closely connecting the family with the Mustelidce, which is 

 represented by Plesictis (P.). To the Canida may be assigned 

 the genera Cynodon (P.S.), Cephalogale (P.), and Cynodictis, 

 together with a species which may be included in Amphicyon 



1 See table on p. 117. 



