432 THE AGE OF MAMMALS * 



the typical African ass (E. asinus), which survived in this region until 

 exterminated by the Greeks and Romans, and is now confined to the deserts 

 of Abyssinia. 



Among the Artiodactyla the presence of camels (C. thoynasii) in Palaeo- 

 lithic Pleistocene times and even in deposits of Neolithic age (C dromedarius) 

 is extraordinarily interesting. There is no evidence as to domestication. 

 The earlier of these two camels of ancient Libya had longer legs and was of 

 heavier build than the dromedary. The rare remains of the later form, 

 probably identical with the recent dromedary, may be those of a race which 

 was already emigrating or becoming extinct.^ The presence of the camel 

 is one of the most convincing proofs of connection of this fauna with that 

 of the Upper Siwaliks of southern Asia, and thus of North America. 



Giraffes very similar to the recent African giraffe (C giraffa) have been 

 found in mid-Pleistocene deposits associated with Palaeolithic stone imple- 

 ments of the Chellean type.- They are also depicted in rock drawings of 

 Neolithic age in Algeria. 



In Neolithic times there existed at least one species of deer, whereas at 

 present there are two kinds of deer, the red and the fallow,^ in North Africa,' 

 both undoubted Eurasiatic migrants. 



Especially significant of Asiatic and Siwalik affinity are the Pleistocene 

 cattle and buffaloes of North Africa, including contemporary species of 

 Bos, all belonging to late Quaternary or to the Neolithic age, partly do- 

 mesticated, and with remote resemblances to the Pleistocene cattle of France 

 and Spain. Similar Asiatic affinity is found in the remains of buffalo {Bu- 

 balus antiquus) allied to the existing Indian form. This was a powerful 

 beast which presumably lived in herds, frequenting grassy plains and 

 swampy districts, and in its presence here we seem to find confirmation of 

 what geology teaches us in regard to the dampness of the Quaternary climate. 

 The disappearance of the buffalo from North Africa at the commencement 

 of the Recent Period was no doubt due to the increasingly dry conditions, 

 and partly to destruction by man. 



The great number and variety of antelopes is most astonishing in this 

 region, which now is inhabited only by the gazelles (Gazella), hartebeest 

 (Bubalis), and addax antelope (Addax). It includes gnus (Connochoetes), 

 several species of Bubalis still represented in the Barbary States, an aber- 

 rant form (Oreonagor) , related to the nilgai of India, nine species of gazelles 

 (Gazella), the oryx (Oryx), the nagor (Cervicapra redunca), several large 

 elands (Oreas), such as now inhabit South Africa, as well as dwarf ante- 

 lopes (Cephalophus). Beside these plains and desert types of ruminants, 



1 Pomel, A., Cameliens et Cervides. Carte Geol. Algerie, Paleont. Monogr., Algiers, 1893. 



2 Pallary, P., Note sur la Girafe et le Chameau du Quaternaire Algerian. Bull. Soc. Geol. 

 France, Ser. 3, Vol. XXVIII, 1900, pp. 908-909. 



' See Lydekker, Deer of all Lands. The North African red deer (Cervus elaphu.f bar- 

 barus) is smaller than the European race. Evidence on the range of the common fallow deer 

 {Cervus dama) in northwestern Africa is not very full. 



