APE. 



81 



The genus Hyanodon also combines the characters of the 

 Hyaenas and the Cats, and besides approximates in some degree 

 to the Marsupials. The sandstones of Aarwangen contain the 

 remains of one species. An animal related to the dog (Amphi- 

 cyon intermedius, Meyer) has been found in the lignites of the 

 Hohe-Rhonen; and an aquatic animal,, nearly agreeing with 

 the otter in size and form (Pot another ium Valetoni, Geoffr.), 

 has been found at Elgg. The Swiss weasel is represented by 

 Trochictis carbonaria, Meyer, from Kapfnach and Elgg, which, 

 however, in many respects approaches the badger. The genus 

 Galecynus forms a similar bond of union between two existing 

 genera, namely, the dog and the civet. A nearly complete 

 skeleton of one species (Galecynus palustris, Meyer, sp.) was 

 discovered at (Eningen. The animal was as large as a fox. It 

 agrees with the dog in its dentition, but had the thick tail, the 

 feet and toes, and the tubercular molars of the civet. 



The order Quadrumana, which has been already met with 

 among the animals of the Pea-ore formation in the Eocene 

 period, was not wanting in the Swiss Miocene series. A very 

 fine upper jaw of an ape (Hylobates antiquus), furnished with the 

 teeth, has been found in the lignites of Elgg, and is now in the 

 Museum at Winterthur. It is represented in Plate XI. fig. 4, 

 from a drawing prepared by Prof. Riitimeyer and kindly com- 

 municated to Prof. Heer. In it the four incisors (a) are seen, 

 of which the two middle ones (a 1 ) are rather larger than the 

 two lateral ones (a 2 ) . The canines (b) project only a little be- 

 yond the others; their outer surface is of a rounded conical 

 form, gently bent inwards towards the apex ; the inner surface is 

 slightly hollowed, so as to produce a posterior sharp longitudinal 

 edge. Of the five three-rooted molars which the animal probably 

 possessed, only three are preserved on one side, and three and a 

 half on the other. The first two (the premolars, or false molars, 

 c l , c 2 ) are furnished at the apex with two tubercles, and the third 

 (c 3 ) has four tubercles, the middle part being depressed. This 

 dentition leaves no doubt that the jaw belonged to an ape of the 

 Catarrhine or narrow-nosed family. According to a recent exa- 

 mination by Prof. Riitimeyer, it agrees so well with a lower jaw 

 discovered by Lartet at Sansan near Auch (Department of 

 Gers), that it may be referred without hesitation to the same 



VOL. II. G 



