106 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



parts of France, as well as in the different strata in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the metropolis. 



The characters of the genus palaeotherium may be thus 

 described : Six incisors in each jaw, ranged in one and the same 

 line, angular, and tolerably strong ; four canines, one in each 

 side in each jaw, conical, and so distant as to cross each other 

 when the mouth was closed ; seven molars on the right and left 

 in each jaw, the upper of a square form, with four roots and three 

 crests on the external side, leaving between them two channels 

 — they have a furrow on the internal side ; their coronal, pretty 

 analogous to that of the upper molars of the rhinoceros and 

 daman, presents, on its external edge, a sort of projecting figure, 

 in the form of a W, to which are united internally two oblique 

 hillocks, proceeding to the two extremities of the W, leaving 

 between them a valley, also oblique, and the entire base of the 

 tooth is surrounded by a cincture. The lower molais show their 

 enamelled outlines in the form of a double crescent, i. e,, two 

 crescents, one at the end of the other, more or less oblique. 

 The general form of the head is Hke that of the tapirs ; the 

 nasal bones are very short and slender, jutting out only on the 

 lower part of the nasal aperture, and very probably having 

 formed a point of attachment for the muscles of a small and 

 mobile proboscis. The orbital and temporal foramina were 

 separated above by a well-marked projection, and the first was 

 very small, and less elevated than the second, proving that the 

 eye must have been small, and situated low. The zygomatic 

 arches rather projected. The cranium was very narrow at the 

 elevation of the temporal foramina, which are enormously large. 

 The glenoid cavity is level, as in the tapirs. The meatus au- 

 ditorius very small, and not elevated, whence M. Cuvier con- 

 cludes that the ear was attached very low down. The occipital 

 facet was very small, and the crests of the occiput strongly 

 projecting. Ribs (in one species. Pal, Minus) true and false, 

 fifteen pair; extremities slightly elevated; cubitus distinct 

 from the radius ; peroneum distinct from the tibia ; three toes 



