FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 127 



been two extinct species of felis. The first and largest he calls 

 Felis Spelcea, the second and smaller Felis Antiqua, It is 

 totally unnecessary, and it would be quite uninteresting, for us 

 to enter into the osteological distinctions of those from the 

 living felinse, which differences, though sufficient for the natu- 

 ralist, would not, perhaps, be deemed very striking by the ge- 

 neral reader. It is sufficient to remark, that M. Cuvier has 

 discovered in these remains a closer analogy to the jaguar than 

 to any other living felis. 



The rest of the fossil carnivora may be soon despatched. 

 Bones of the wolf, the fox, the glutton, the weasel, the genet, 

 and other small carnivora, have been found in the same situations 

 as the animals we have been describing. It must be observed, 

 however, that in no case have these bones been clearly esta- 

 blished as belonging to species distinct from those now existing. 

 Neither can we say that, in every instance, identity with the 

 existing species has been proved. It is certain that these bones, 

 be they what they may, are in the same state with those of the 

 bears, the hyaenas, and the felinse ; they have the same colour, 

 the same consistence, and are similarly embedded. Every 

 thing indicates that they must all be referred to the same era, 

 and that they were all overwhelmed by the same catastrophe. 

 The differences between them and their living congeners prin- 

 cipally consist in relative magnitude. Two teeth were found 

 at Avary, in France, with the bones of the mastodon, rhinoce- 

 ros, and tapir, which seemed to prove the ancient existence of 

 canis ; but one of gigantic size. The Baron calculates, that it 

 could not be less than eight feet from the extremity of the 

 muzzle to the root of the tail, and at least five feet in height to 

 the shoulder. But, in general, it may be said of these animals 

 that the resemblance to the living species is much stronger than 

 the difterences. The same observation is applicable to the 

 same genera of carnivora whose remains were found near Paris, 

 with few exceptions. One large animal, however, of this order 

 was there found approximating to the racoons and coatis, but 

 certainly not referrible even to any known genus. 



