Reviews — R. Lydekker^s Catalogue of Fossil Mammalia. 323 



larger space in the Catalogue (189 pages), and are represented in 

 the Collection by 50 genera and 156 species. Of the 50 genera 

 met with, the following living forms are represented by their fossil 

 remains in the Collection, namely : — the Lion, Lynx, Ocelot, Jaguar, 

 Leopard, Felis caffra, and Wild-Cat; the Hyasna, Wolf, Fox, Dog, 

 Walrus, Seal, Otter, Badger, Glutton, Ermine, Polecat, Marten, 

 Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear. The other genera are extinct, having 

 no modern representative, such as, Hijoenodon, Pterodon, MachcBrodus, 

 Cynodictis, Amphicyon, Simocyon, and many others. 



If we except the bones of Bears and Hyaenas, which occur in 

 considerable abundance in caves in this country, and also in France 

 and Germany, the remains of Carnivora are by no means common in 

 a fossil state, when compared with those of the Herbivora. The 

 explanation of this circumstance is to be found in the difference of 

 habit ; for whereas the Herbivora would be resting at night, and in 

 consequence much more liable to be overtaken unawares by a sudden 

 " freshet," or other catastrophe, the Carnivora, being mostly noc- 

 turnal in their habits, would become aware much sooner of any 

 danger threatening their safety, and so seek refuge in time. Of the 

 earlier deposits in which remains of the Mammalia have been met 

 ■with, one of the most rich is that of the (Eocene) Phosphorite 

 deposits of Quercy, Caylux, etc., in Central France, from which 

 large nnmbers of most interesting forms have been procured. These 

 phosphorites are met with as fissure deposits, and probably occupy 

 hollows which once served as water-courses, into which ancient 

 streams found their way by subterranean channels in Tertiary times, 

 like those of Carinthia and Kentucky at the present day. 



But the strata from which the largest number of specimens in the 

 collection have been obtained are the Upper Miocene beds of the 

 Siwalik Hills in India, most of the specimens from which were 

 collected by the late Sir Proby T. Cautley, K.C.B., and partly 

 described by the late Dr. Hugh Falconer, F.R.S. The Carnivora 

 necessarily, however, form but a small proportion of this magnificent 

 collection. 



The RoDENTiA occupy the remaining 55 pages of Mr. Lydekker's 

 Catalogue, and comprise the Squirrels ; Beavers ; Dormice ; the true 

 Mice and Rats ; Field-mice ; the Viscacha (Lagostomiis) ; the Porcu- 

 pine ; the " Paca " {Ccelogenys) ; the Capybara ; the common Rabbit 

 and the Hare, etc. In this division the most interesting British forms 

 are the common Beaver once abundant in this country, even close to 

 London, in the valley of the Lea at Walthamstow ; and its great 

 extinct ancestor the Trogontherium Cuvieri of the Norfolk Forest 

 Bed. 



The tailless Hare or "Pika" (Lagomys) ; the "Marmot" {Sper- 

 mophilus) ; and the Lemming {Tiemmiis) are among the most in- 

 teresting of the lesser Rodents ; indicating as they do more Arctic 

 conditions of climate, and also attesting the former connection exist- 

 ing between England and the Continent. 



Mr. Lydekker's Catalogue must certainly prove of great value to 

 to students and to men of science who desire to work at the collections 



