436 ANOPLOTHERIUM. 



(fig. 179), which was recognised by Dr. Buckland and 

 Fig. 179. Mr. Pentland, as belonging to the Ano- 



plotherium commune, is the first of the 

 true molars. 



These teeth consist, like those of the 

 Palseotherium, of two semi-cylindrical 

 lobes ; but they are more deeply pene- 

 Lower molar tooth, nat. trated by narrower enamel folds on their 



size. Anoplotierium j nner gi( j ^ are re l at i ve j y |j roa der 



commune. Bmstead, 



Isle of Wight. transversely, when worn down to the 



same extent, than those of the Palseotherium, as will be 

 obvious by comparing fig. 179 with fig. 116. The last 

 lower molar tooth has a third small posterior lobe, as in the 

 Ruminants and the Palseotherium. 



A general idea of the character of the chief bones of 

 the skeleton may be obtained from the reduced view in cut 

 175. By comparing it with cut 109, it will be seen that 

 the thigh-bone differs from that (/*) of the Palseothere in 

 the absence of the third trochanter. The fore-part of the 

 astragalus of the Anoplothere differs from that of the 

 Palseothere in the same way as the astragalus of the Hippo- 

 potamus differs from that of the Rhinoceros. The almost 

 equal bipartition of the fore-part of the bone, indicates 

 that the toes of the hind-foot of the Anoplothere were in 

 equal number ; and the fossil specimens have shewn them 

 to be two in both fore and hind feet, as in the Ruminants. 

 But the metacarpus and metatarsus, (m m,) instead of 

 consisting each of a single ' cannon-bone,' were divided 

 lengthwise, the two primitively separate bones continuing 

 distinct throughout life in the Anoplothere.* 



* This condition of the metacarpals and metatarsals has been observed in the 

 exceptional instance of the existing African Moschus aquaticus, and in an ex- 

 tinct-Ruminant of the Sewalik Hills, by Dr. Falconer, the distinguished eluci- 

 dator of the Himalayan Fossils. 



