348 PICTURESQUE SKETCHES 



produced at once in distant spots, which, so far as 

 we know, were as unconnected formerly as they are 

 at present. 



The distribution of the more characteristic land 

 animals in groups is the main fact to be observed in 

 considering this part of the subject ; but we should 

 not forget that some important set of causes must 

 also, in all probability, have been in action, tending 

 to produce that singular development of the larger 

 quadrupeds, which has not only peopled the conti- 

 nents and islands of the Old World with gigantic 

 types, but has also affected America, in the southern 

 as well as the northern districts. In that part of 

 the world, as elsewhere, there is a detached and sin- 

 gular group of animals, now greatly limited in dis- 

 tribution, but anciently represented by a large num- 

 ber of individuals as well as species, attaining di- 

 mensions not less gigantic in proportion than those 

 of the elephantine monsters or reptiles of India or 

 western Europe, or even of Australia and New Zea- 

 land. 



