THE MIOCENE OF EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AMERICA 259 



(Anas) in its proportions, and the third a very lar2;e, stoutly built form. 

 Tliere were also three different rails (Rallus), smaller than the Oligocene 

 species found in the basin of the Allier, and inclucUng a land-rail and two 

 marsh-loving forms or water-rails. 



Around the lake borders ' browsed the innumerable smaller ruminants, 

 tragulines, and cervulines, the latter with forked horns (Dicrocerus) and 

 present in great specific variety. Frequenting the marshes were three 

 forms of pigs {Hyothcrium, Choerotherium), and the typical Lidriodon with 

 crested teeth like those of a tapir. Several species of fiat-horned antelopes ^ 

 are listed from this horizon. Of the perissodactyls the diceratheres have 

 now disappeared; the anchitheres, tapirs, and rhinoceroses all present 

 more advanced stages. Especi- 

 ally characteristic among the 

 latter is the species Dicerorhinus 

 sansaniensis, a delicate form 

 which supports but two horns, 

 a successor to the Lower Mio- 

 cene D. tagicus. The chalico- 

 theres are in the Macrotherium x»^v^ h.f. 



stage, a complete skeleton hav- I'k;. 130. — Clawed fourth digit of the foot (X^) 



ing been described from this of the ancylopod perissodactyl iV/a.ToJ^^^^^^^^^^^ 

 ° _ _ the Middle Miocene of Sansau. After Gaudry. 



level by Filhol, which enabled 



him for the first time to prove that the chalicotheres were not edentates, 

 but of composite structure, with the teeth of perissodactyls and claws of 

 digging type. 



The type of the great Miocene mastodon {T. angustidens) was dis- 

 covered in this famous deposit. Bats, or Cheiroptera (Vespertilio, Rhino- 

 lophus) are numerous. Insectivores also abound, including several modern 

 genera, hedgehogs (Erinaceus), shrews (Sorex, Crocidura), and desmans 

 (Myogale) ; the latter are very similar to those now found in the Pyrenees 

 and a few localities in Russia. Another insectivore, Galerix (syn. Lan- 

 tanotherium) is, according to Leche, related to the Oriental erinaceid (Gym- 

 7iura) now' found in southeastern Asia and the East Indies. The rodents 

 include squirrels (Sciurus), flying squirrels (Sciuropterus) , dormice (Myoxus), 

 picas (Myolagus), hamsters (Cricetodon), castorids {Chalicomys), and the 

 peculiar family of theridomyids, soon to become extinct. 



Preying upon this herbivorous fauna are the giant dogs Aviphicyon and 

 Hemicyon. Neither the true dog type (Canis) nor the cat type (Felis) 

 has yet appeared. The leopard-like Pseudcelurus represents the cats, while 

 Machwrodus represents the salier-tooth tigers. The mustelids were becom- 

 ing more numerous, including martens, otters, weasels, while the Asiatic 

 civets or viverrids (Viveira) are becoming somewhat more rare. 



' Filhol. 1891, and Milne Edwards, 1869-1871, op. cit. 

 ^ ProlraQocerus sansaniensis, P. martiniana, P. clavata. 



