168 DINOCERATA. 



Possibly the Dinocerata may have been armed with horns similar to 

 those seen in the American antelope (AntilocapraJ, since, in this animal, 

 the horn-cores are even smoother than in the order here described. More 

 probably, however, the bony protuberances on the skull were covered 

 with bosses of thick skin, hard enough to be effective in combat. 

 Evidence of such contests has apparently been recorded in the injuries 

 to the horn-cores of some individuals, received during life. None of the 

 covering of these elevations, or horn-cores, has, of course, been preserved ; 

 yet a fortunate discovery may, perhaps, reveal their nature by the form 

 of a natural cast, as the eye-ball of the Oreodon is sometimes tluis clearly 

 indicated in the fine Miocene matrix which envelops these animals. 



The short robust feet of the Dinocerata were doubtless covered below 

 with a thick pad, as in the elephant, since the whole under side of the 

 foot clearly indicates such a protection. No portion of this covering has 

 been preserved in any of the known specimens, and no foot-prints, 

 indicating its form, have been discovered in the Eocene deposits in which 

 the Dinocerata were entombed. 



The size of Tinoceras ingens, as he stood in the flesh, was about 

 twelve feet (3.65 M.) in length, or sixteen (4.9 M.), measured from the 

 nose to the end of the tail. The height to the top of the back was about 

 six and one-half feet (2 M.), and the Avidth across the hips about five 

 feet (1.5 M.). The weight, judging from that of existing mammals, was 

 at least six thousand pounds (2.75 T.). 



Dinoceras mirahile was about one-fifth smaller. The neck was 

 longer, but, in other respects, the proportions were nearly the same. 



Dinoceras mirahile when standing at rest would have a general 

 resemblance to a very large rhinoceros. When walking, the movement 

 of the hind limbs would at once suggest the elephant, as we know it 

 to-day. The movement of the head in Dinoceras was much freer than 

 that in the elephant, as the neck was longer, and arched upward, and 

 the vertebrae admitted of much more freedom of motion. The eye was 

 small, and deep set, as in the rhinoceros. The head of Dinoceras must 

 have had some resemblance to that of the hijipopotamus, but was very 

 different from that of any known animal, living or extinct. 



