ME. E. LTBEKKEE Olf FOSSIL MAMMALIA FEOM MAEAGHA. 173 



12. On the Fossil Mammalia of Maeagha, in Noeth-westeen Peesia . 

 By E. Lydekkee, Esq., B.A., F.G.S., &c. (Read January 27, 



1886.) 



The fossil Mammalia of Maragha, a village situated some distance 

 due south of Tabriz, in north-western Persia, have formed the subject 

 of several notices by German writers, foremost among whom are 

 Messrs. Grewingk *, Pohlig f, and Rodler J. As Dr. Pohlig, who has 

 communicated a paper to the Society which will be read this 

 evening, is, I believe, about to write a monograph on the Maragha 

 Mammalia, I do not in any way wish to interfere with or unduly 

 forestall his work ; but since a collection of these remains has been 

 sent to the British Museum by Mr. R. Damon, F.G.S., with a view 

 to their being purchased by that institution, in which case it would 

 fall to my lot to describe them in the Museum Catalogue, and since 

 the specific determination of the Maragha Mammalia is a matter 

 of considerable importance in relation to the western limits of the 

 Siwalik fauna of India (the description of which I am just bringing 

 to a conclusion), I have ventured to lay a few notes on the Maragha 

 Mammals before the Society, and hope that my German confreres 

 will regard them as an endeavour to assist, rather than to mar 

 their work. 



Dr. Grewingk, in the paper cited, recorded the following forms, 

 viz. : — Eelladotherium^ sp., Trcifjoceros, sp., Bison honasus, Cervus 

 elaplius, Equus cahallus, E. onager, Hipparion, sp., Bliinoceros 

 antiquitatis §, H. sp., Elephas primigenius, and Mastodon (?), sp. 

 It was left an open question whether the existing and Pleistocene 

 forms were contemporaries of the others ; but it was concluded that 

 the older forms indicated the representatives of the Lower Pliocene 

 Pikermi beds. Dr. Pohlig mentioned Tragoceros and other large 

 antelopes, Cervus and allied forms, Hipparion and perhaps another 

 small equine, Rhinoceros or Aceratheriiim, Elephas or Mastodon, 

 and an Hycena which was thought to be probably identical with the 

 Pikermi //. eximia. Dr. Rodler, in addition to the forms already 

 mentioned, recorded the Pikermi Gazella deperdita \\, and Palceoreas 

 Linderrnayeri, as well as species of Antidorcas and Sus. He 

 identified the Hipparion with //. gracile, and considered that an 

 Equus and probably a species of Elephas occurred in the same beds. 

 The typical Maragha fauna was regarded as of Pliocene age ; but 

 the existence of an associated Pleistocene fauna was considered as 

 not improbable. To the above-mentioned Pikermi forms the 

 specimens sent to the British Museum apparently add Qiraffa attica % 

 and Palceoryx Pallasi ; and they also indicate that the Sus is 

 apparently S, erymanthius, the Mastodon is M. pentelici, and the 



* Verb. k.-k. geol. Eeichsanst. 1881, p. 296. 



> Ibid. 1884, pp. 281-284. 



X Ibid. 1885, no. 14, p. 333. || Syn. G. brevicornis. 



§ Syn. B. tichorhinus. •[ Syn. Camel opardalis attica. 



