328 Reviews — Dr. C. Deperet's Pliocene Vertebrata. 



Acotlieridum, which, although presenting dental characters allied to 

 Ceboclioerus, yet in other respects is so like Dichobunus that it is 

 difficult to think that it is not nearly allied. Both Palceochcervs and 

 Clioeromerus are retained as distinct from Hyotherium. 



We venture to think that the plan of taking one very large family 

 like the Dichobunidaa and subdividing it into several subfamilies 

 (all of which have the same termination), and the apparent sub- 

 division of one of these subfamilies into sub-subfamilies is not ad- 

 visable, and is sure to lead to confusion ; l and we should have 

 thought it better to rank such subfamilies as families, since it is 

 quite impossible to attempt to make all families or other divisions 

 of precisely the same relative value. That the author himself has 

 not succeeded in this we think is evident, when he sees reason to 

 place Anikracotherium and Choeropotamus in juxtaposition, while 

 Ccenotherium and the closely allied Dichobunus are made the types of 

 separate subfamilies ; but this is still more glaringly the case if the 

 Dichobunidse is to include all the Pecora (as a subdivision of the 

 Gelocidaa), and yet not to have higher rank than the Oreodontidse. 



It is, however, hardly to be expected that any two persons can 

 entirely agree on such points, and in concluding this notice we beg 

 to congratulate the learned writer on this decidedly valuable contri- 

 bution to morphological zoology. E. Lydekker. 



II. — Dr. C. Deperet on the Pliocene Vertebrata op France. 2 



THIS memoir will be welcomed by all students of the Pliocene 

 Mammalia of the South of Prance, as it throws much light on 

 many of the forms imperfectly described many years ago by Croizet 

 and Jobert, and Aymard. The work consists of three pai'ts : 1st, a 

 geological description of the Rouisillon basin ; 2nd, a description of 

 the Vertebrates ; and, 3rd, a survey of the Pliocene Vertebrates of 

 Europe. In the Pliocene the author includes all the strata from the 

 Norfolk Forest-bed to the Montpellier and Casino beds, and follows 

 the usual French view of classing the Pikermi and Mont Leberon 

 beds with the Upper Miocene instead of at the base of the Pliocene. 3 

 The only new species of Mammal described is Viverra P&praxti, 

 which appears intermediate between V. civetta and Ictitherium ; but 

 there are several interesting forms which may be briefly mentioned. 

 The so-called Antilope boodon is referred to Palceoryx, while A. torti- 

 cornis, Aymard, which has been shown in an earlier memoir to be 



1 "We have already been obliged to quote such subfamilies in the same rank with 

 families. 



2 Theses Presentes a, la Faculte des Sciences de Paris, ser. A. No. 67, pp. 1-268, 

 pis. i.-v. (1885). The writer of this notice regrets that the work did not come into 

 his hands in time to incorporate some of its information in the British Museum 

 Catalogues. 



3 In a recent memoir (Bull. Soc. Geolr France, ser. 3, vol. xiii. pp. 287-94 [1886]). 

 Prof. Gaudry defends the former view. Since the'learned Professor admits the inter- 

 calation of Pliocene marine strata in the Pikermi beds, all his reasons appear to us 

 (be it said with all respect) to present a strong savour of the kind of argument known 

 as " begging thd question." 



