118 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii. 



Wight. The Malayan family Tupaiidse or squirrel-shrews, is 

 believed to be represented by Oxygomphus, a fossil discovered in 

 South Germany (Wiesenau) by H. von Meyer. The Soricidse or 

 shrews, are represented by several extinct genera — Plesiosorex, 

 Mysarachne and Galeospalax ; as well as by Amphisorex and Myo- 

 gale still living. Echinogale, a genus of Centetidse now confined 

 to Madagascar, is said to occur in the Lower Miocene of Auvergne, 

 a most interesting determination, if correct, as it would form a 

 transition to the Solenodon of the Antilles belonging to the same 

 family ; but I am informed by Prof. Flower that the affinities of 

 the animals described under this name are very doubtful. 



Carnivora. — Besides Felis and Machairodus, which extend back 

 to the Upper Miocene, there are two other genera of Felidse, 

 Pseudcelurus in the Upper Miocene of France, and Hymnodon, 

 wlr'ch occurs in the Upper and Lower Miocene of France, named 

 from some resemblance in its teeth to the hysenas, and considered 

 by some Palaeontologists to form a distinct family, Hysenodonticlse. 

 The Viverridae, or civets, were very numerous, consisting of the 

 living genus Viverra, and three extinct forms — Thalassictis= 

 Iditherium, as large as a panther, and Soricictis, a smaller form, 

 occurring both in France and Hungary. Of Rycenidce, there was 

 the living genus Hymna, and the extinct Hymnidis, which has 

 occurred in Hungary as well as in Greece. The Canidae, or 

 wolf and fox family, were represented by Pseudocyon, near to 

 Canis; Hemicyon, intermediate between dogs and gluttons; 

 and Amphicyon, of which several species occur in the Upper 

 and Lower Miocene of France, some of them larger than a 

 tiger. The Mustelidae, or weasels, were represented by five 

 genera, the existing genera Lutra (otter) and Mustela (weasel) ; 

 Potamothermm, an extinct form of otter ; Taxodon, allied to the 

 badger and otter; Palceomephitis in Germany, and the Prome- 

 phytis (already noticed) in Greece. The bears were represented 

 only by Hyccnardos, which has been noticed as occurring in 

 the Pliocene, and first appears in the Upper Miocene of France. 

 Seals are represented by a form resembling the Antarctic 

 Otaria, remains of which occur in the Upper Miocene of 

 France. 



