206 PROCEEBINas OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Feb. 24, 



posed by Prof. Owen in 1853*, under the mistaken idea that the 

 skull found at Maidenhead belonged to the same genus as that of 

 the Gape Buffalo. There is nothing in common between the skulls 

 of the two animals except the superficial resemblance of the down- 

 ward direction of the horncores f. 



Order Perissodactyla, genus Rhinoceros, species Rhinoceros lepto- 

 rhinus, Owen. This term is used as the exact equivalent of the R. 

 hemitoechus of Dr. Falconer, and of the R. Merckii of M. Lartet. If 

 the validity of the species R. leptorhinus of Cuvier be proved by 

 subsequent investigation, R, leptorhinus of Owen must be exchanged 

 for R. hemitoechus of Falconer, and Cuvier' s species must be taken 

 to represent R. megarhinus of Christol. 



Order Proboscidea, genus Elephas, species Elephas antiquus, 

 Falc. This species includes also the Elephas priscus that was pro- 

 posed by Dr. Falconer, and afterwards withdrawn. 



With the exception of the above species, there are none deserving 

 of any especial note among the Postglacial Mammals, there being 

 no clash of opinion among scientific men as to their nomenclature 

 or affinities. 



Three animals have been purposely omitted from the list of Post- 

 glacial species : — the Fallow deer ( Cervus dama) , which is doubtfully 

 inserted by Prof. Owen, but which really cannot boast an antiquity 

 in this country higher than that of the Roman occupation ; the 

 small Short-horn {Bos longifrons), which did not make its appear- 

 ance in Europe until the characteristic Postglacial mammals had 

 passed away; and the Capra hircus, which was brought to this country 

 probably by the hand of man during the Prehistoric epoch. 



The Squirrel and the smaller rodents wild in Britain probably 

 crossed over to this country during the Postglacial epoch, although 

 the former, from its arboreal habits, and the majority of the latter, 

 from their small size, have not been found in any deposit of that 

 age. It would have been impossible for them to have invaded 

 Britain after its insulation from the mainland of Europe. 



§ 5. Identity of the Mammalia of the Caves with those of the River- 

 beds. — We have now to discuss the inferences which necessarily flow 

 from the foregoing data. And first as regards the relation of the 

 fossil mammals of the caves to those of the river- deposits. Dr. 

 Falconer, in his memorable essay on the Caves of Grower J, established 

 the fact that all the caves in Britain with which he was acquainted 

 belong to one and the same Postglacial geological epoch. A glance 

 at the table of distribution shows, not only the truth of this con- 

 clusion, but further, that the entire group of cave-mammals is iden- 

 tical with that of the river-deposits. Out of a sum total of 47 

 mammals found in both. Rhinoceros megarhinus and Cervus Browni 

 being excepted, there are but 15 cave-mammals that have not been 

 found in the latter, namely, two species of Bat, the Glutton, Badger, 

 Ermine, Stoat, Otter, Panther, Lynx, Machairodus, Elk, Spermo- 



* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol, xii. p. 124. 



t On this point the Osteological Catalogue of the Oxford Museum, No. 552, 

 gives ample details. % Op. cit. toL ii. 



