Antediluvian Zoology. 



369 



peds. Baron Cuvier observed that mammiferous sea animals 

 are in more ancient strata than mammiferous land animals ; 

 oviparous quadrupeds than viviparous quadrupeds. The ovi- 

 parous quadrupeds apparently began to exist at the same time 

 with the fishes ; the land quadrupeds not until long after, 

 and after the period when most of the shells were deposited. 



On comparing the antediluvian animals with those existing, 

 it is seen that the principal loss has fallen upon the Carnivora, 

 while the ruminants are preserved. Another singular fact 

 has been elicited through the labours of the baron. " The 

 fossil ruminants appertain precisely to the genera and sub- 

 genera at present most common in the northern climates : to 

 the aurochs, the musk-ox, the elk, and the rein- deer ; while 

 the fossil Pachydermata, the elephant, the rhinoceros, the 

 hippopotamus, and the tapir, are limited at present to the 

 torrid zone." 



Carnivora, — Remains of carnivorous animals are frequently 

 found in our island. The supposed antediluvian fissures of 

 rocks, chiefly in the mountain limestone, red sandstone, and 

 oolite, are their principal receptacles. They are derived firom 

 several extinct species of hyaenas, wolf, tiger, bear, and weasel. 

 {Jig. 95.) 



o, Molar tooth of wolf; 5, molar tooth of tiger ; c, molar tooth of hyjena. From Kirkdale cave. 



Science is indebted to the zealous researches of Dr. Buck- 

 land for investigating the circumstances connected with the 

 caverns where these animals have been discovered. Similar 

 bones have been found, mixed with brick earth and lacustrine 

 exuviae, at Brentford, in gravel at Rugby, and in diluvium 

 near Maidstone. It is probable that all the animals whose 

 remains have been seen in caves will be traced in the diluvial 

 or transported gravel, an opinion which is derived from high 

 geological authority. In Yorkshire, an interesting discovery 

 has more recently been communicated by Mr. Vernon, of the 



