110 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



riuin, having been the largest of terrestrial Mannmalia;* and 

 the second, the Megatherium, presenting greater deviations 

 Irom ordinary animal forms, than occur in any other species, 

 either of recent or fossil quadrupeds. 



It has been already stated, in our account of the Mam- 

 malia of the Miocene period of the tertiary series, that the 

 most abundant remains of the Dinotherium are found at 

 I'^pplesheim, in the province of Hesse Darmstadt, and are 

 <lcscribed, in a work now in process of publication, by Pro- 

 fessor Kaup. Fragments of the same genus are mentioned 

 by Cuvier, as occurring in several parts of France, and in 

 Bavaria and Austria. 



. The form of the molar teeth of the Dinotherium, (PI. 2. 

 C. Fig. 3,) so nearly resembles that of the Tapirs, that 

 Cuvier at first referred them to a gigantic species of this 

 genus. Professor Kaup has since placed this animal in the 

 new genus Dinotherium, holding an intermediate place be- 

 tween the Tapir and the Mastodon, and supplying another 

 important extinct link in the great family of Pachydcrmata. 

 The largest species of this genus, D. Giganteum, is calcu- 

 lated, both by Cuvier and Kaup, to have attained the ex- 

 traordinary length of eighteen feet. The most remarkable 

 hone of the body yet found is the shoulder-blade, the form 

 of which more nearly resembles that of a Mole than of any 

 other animal, and seems to indicate a peculiar adaptation 

 of the fore leg to the purposes of digging, an indication 

 which is corroborated by the remarkable structure of the 

 lower jaw. 



The lower jaws of two species of Dinotherium, figured 

 in Plate 2. C. Figs. 1. 2. exhibit peculiarities in the disposi- 



* Tlic Autlior has recently been informed by Professor Kaup, of Darm- 

 etodt, tliut an entire head of lliis animal has been discovered at Epples- 

 licim, nicasurinjr more than a yard in length, and as much in breadth, 

 and that he is preparing a description and figures of this head for immediate 

 publication. 



