438 ZOOLOGY. 



The genus ArdhracotJterinm is very remarkable, as it forms a link of 

 relationship between the Anoplotheridie and Suidae. By the upper molars 

 they are allied to Anoplotherium, whilst those of the lower jaw resemble 

 those of the hog, and more particularly of the extinct genus Chferopotamus. 

 The remains of several species have been found in the meiocene deposits 

 of central Europe. 



The genus Tapirus possesses twenty-scA^en molars, which present two 

 transverse and rectilinear prominences when not worn off". Each jaw has 

 six incisors and two canines, separated from the molars by an empty space. 

 The nose resembles a small fleshy proboscis ; there are four toes to the fore 

 feet, and three to the hind ones. For a long time only a single sj^ecies was 

 known of this genus, the American tapir {T. americanus\ quite common in 

 ■Paragua}^, of the size of a small ass. It frequents wet places along the 

 rivers of South America. The skin is nearly naked, the tail moderate, the 

 neck fleshy, forming a sort of crest on the nape. Another species is now 

 known to inhabit the Andes. A third, T. indicus {pi. Ill, fig. 1), occurs 

 on the eastern continent. Many" fossil species, some of them of gigantic 

 size, are on record, three from central Europe, and one from Brazil. 



Fam. 5. Elephantid^e, or Proboscidia, is characterized by having an 

 elongated, flexible, and powerful proboscis, an organ of touch as well as of 

 smell, together with very large projecting tusks. There are no canines or 

 incisors, properly so called ; in place of them we find the tusks. The toes 

 are five in number on each foot, very complete in the skeleton, but so 

 incrusted by the callous skin which surrounds the foot that their only 

 external appearance is in the nails attached to the edge of this kind of hoof. 

 The representatives of this family are not very numerous in genera and 

 species, as if their enormous size had forbidden a greater profusion. Two 

 genera, one extinct {Mastodon), and the other living {Elephas), constitute 

 the whole of it ; most of the species are extinct. 



The genus Mastodon is very nearly allied to the elephants. It had, like 

 the latter, a large proboscis, by means of which it could gather on the sur- 

 I'ace of the earth the plants and roots upon which it fed. The head and neck 

 are short, and could not easily reach to the feet without some such provi- 

 sion. It differs from elephants in the structure of the molar teeth, the 

 crown of which, instead of being flattened above, exhibits small cones 

 arranged in a certain number of transverse rows. In size mastodonts were 

 generally superior to elephants. Many sjDCcies are described, but some of 

 them are still doubtful. They all lived during the tertiary epoch, and in 

 larger number towards the end of it. They were very common in Ame- 

 rica, and the discoi^ery of the remains of some of them has from time to 

 time produced a very great sensation. Various names have been applied 

 to these remains. The following belong to the Mastodon giganteum, the 

 largest and first species known : Mammuth ohioticum, Mastotherium^ Har- 

 pagmothcrium canadense, Elephas carnivorus (the tuberculous crown of 

 whose teeth, when first discovered, led some to imagine carnivorous 

 habits), T^.tracaulodon mastodontoideum, Missouriwn theristo-caulodon, and 

 many other specific denominations. Species of this genus have left 

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