134 DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii. 



Mephitis or skunk; Hcrpttotherium, near the moles; Embasis, 

 more allied to the shrews ; and Dommina, of uncertain affinities. 

 Two others have been found in the Eocene of Wyoming ; Amomys, 

 having some resemblance to hedgehogs and to the Eastern Tupaia; 

 and Washakius, of doubtful affinities. 



Far back in the Triassic coal of North Carolina has been found 

 the jaw of a small mammal (Dromotherium), the teeth of which 

 somewhat resemble those of the Australian Myrmecobius, and 

 may belong either to the Insectivora or Marsupials ; if indeed, at 

 that early period these orders were differentiated. 



Carnivora. — The most ancient forms of this order are some 

 remains found in the Middle Eocene of Wyoming, and others 

 recently described by Professor Cope (1875) from the Eocene of 

 New Mexico, of perhaps earlier date. The former consist of three 

 genera, Patriofclis, Vintacyon, and Sinopa, — animals of large size 

 but which cannot be classed in any existing family ; and two 

 others, Mcsonyx and Synoplotherium, believed by Mr. Cope to be 

 allied to Hycenodon. The latter consist of four genera, — Oxycena, 

 consisting of several species, some as large as a jaguar, was 

 allied to Hycenodon and Pterodon ; Pachyccna, allied to the last ; 

 Prototomus, allied to Arnphicyon and the Viverridse ; and Lim- 

 nocyon, a civet-like carnivore with resemblances to the Canidae. 



In the Miocene formations we find the Feline type well deve- 

 loped. The wonderful Machairodus, which in Europe lived down 

 to Post-Pliocene times, is found in the Upper Miocene of Dakota ; 

 and perfect crania have been discovered, showing that the chin 

 was lengthened downwards to receive and protect the enormous 

 canines. Dinyctis was allied both to Machairodus and to the 

 weasels. Three new genera have been lately described by Professor 

 Cope from the Miocene of Colorado, — Buncrfurus, with characters 

 of both cats and weasels ; Daptophilus, allied to Dinyctis ; and 

 Hoplophoneus, more allied to Machairodus. The Canidse are re- 

 presented by Arnphicyon, which occurs in deposits of the same 

 age in Europe ; and by Canis, four species of which genus are 

 recorded by Professor Cope from the Miocene of Colorado, and it 

 also occurs in the Pliocene. The Hycenodon is represented by 

 three species in the Miocene of Dakota and Colorado. It occurs 



