84 TEETIAET VEETEBEATA OF THE FATtM. 



The occurrence of Hyracoids in Samos and Pikermi, associated with an African type 

 of fauna including such forms as Orycteropus and giraffe-like animals, pointed strongly 

 to Africa as the early home of these animals, as was suggested by Osborn, Stehlin, 

 and others. The correctness of this view is now amply proved by the discovery in 

 the Upper Eocene beds of Egypt of a number of Hyracoids, some of them of 

 considerable size. Unfortunately, at present only the teeth and portions of the skull 

 are known, and these throw little or no light on the vexed question of the affinities of 

 this most peculiar group of mammals ; in fact, it is most remarkable that at a period 

 so remote as the Upper Eocene so little difference from the modern types existed 

 that, so far as can be seen, the Hyraces were almost as distinct from other groups 

 of mammals as they are at the present day. The only point of importance in which 

 these earlier forms are more primitive, is in the possession of premolars which are all 

 simpler than the molars. The presence of a talon in the posterior upper and lower 

 molars seems to be of no special significance, since its absence in the later forms is a 

 recently-acquired character, the roots that supported this posterior lobe still remaining 

 and in some cases traces of the talon itself of the last lower molar being preserved. 



It is to be hoped that remains of members of the order may be found in the Middle 

 Eocene beds, so that some light may be thrown on the relationship of this with other 

 groups. All that can be said at present is, that in Upper Eocene times in the Ethiopian 

 Eegion the Hyracoidea formed a very important factor in the fauna. 



Family SAGHATHERIID^. 



Hyracoids which possess the full eutherian dentition in the upper jaw. The 

 anterior incisors modified to form trihedral rootless tusks ; i. 1 and i. 2 separated from 

 one another and from the teeth in front by diastemata. Canines premolariform and 

 in contact with the anterior premolar. Cheek-teeth brachyodont ; premolars simpler 

 than the molars ; a talon to the last lower molar. 



Genus SAGHATHERIUM, Andrews & Beadnell. 



[Prelim. Note on some new Mammals from the Upper Eocene of Egypt, p. 5 (Survey Department, 



Cairo, 1902).] 



Hyracoids of small and medium size. Postero-internal cusp scarcely at all developed 

 in the premolars, even in jpm. 4. Incisors with only one root. 



