116 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



In the loose strata the remains of six species of deer ai*e 

 found, one of which at least, namely, that with gigantic antlers, 

 has totally disappeared from the face of the earth. In the 

 osseous breccia are four others, three of which exist no longer, 

 at least in our climates, and bear no analogy to any of the 

 tribe at present in existence, except the deer of countries far 

 remote from ours. 



The regular rocky strata, which inclose the most ancient 

 pachydermata, have also furnished us with one species of deer, 

 that of Orleans. It is entirely unknown at the present day, 

 and may be said even to exhibit characters of almost generic 

 distinction. 



We also find the distribution of this genus in the different 

 strata regulated by the same laws as that of the pachydermata. 

 There is a most important observation of the Baron's connected 

 with this subject ; and that is, that if the fossil rein-deer was of 

 the same species as the existing, or had the same habits, its co- 

 existence with the rhinoceros in the cavern of Breuges, and with 

 the mastodon near Etampes, renders more and more probable 

 the opinion that these large pachydermata inhabited the coun- 

 tries where their remains have been found. It also proves that 

 these countries can have undergone no very great change of 

 temperature. 



A similar observation is applicable to the remains of the ox, 

 which also accompany those of the elephant. It is clearly 

 proved that this genus existed coevally with the pachydermata 

 of the ancient alluvion. It appears that there w^ere at least two 

 species, one with slender limbs, resembling the auroch, another 

 with more massive members, like the domestic ox, or the buf- 

 falo. Craniums have been found of the former, and other 

 bones, in various localities, which the Baron is inclined to refer 

 to the same source ; but as the bones and craniums were not 

 found together, it is impossible to speak with absolute certainty 

 on this correspondence. It is also to be observed, that the 

 distinction between these said crania and those of the European 



