EOCENE PERIOD 129 



" defenceless " animals were, as their name suggests, not 

 built on martial lines, and must have trusted to flight when 

 disturbed in their ruminations. They were probably good 

 swimmers, and no doubt used their long and exceptionally 

 strong tails to speed their passage through the waters. 



Other forms were gazeUe-hke in appearance (Xiphodon), 

 and about the size of chevrotains. They also were defence- 

 less animals, so far as regards actual weapons. 



All these primitive cud-chewers seem to have been con- 

 fined to Europe ; but North America was not without 

 animals of similar type (Protoreodon). Those, however, were 

 not so far advanced in ruminancy as the European forms. 



The nearest relatives at the present day of the early 

 ruminants are, no doubt, the chevrotains. These are the 

 smallest hoofed animals now living ; and are of a primitive, 

 composite character, holding affinities both with pigs and 

 deer. In possessing tusks they certainly surpass their 

 defenceless forerunners. 



On North American scenes, in late Eocene times, animals, 

 more or less allied to the early ruminants, had set out, 

 apparently, to found the Camel family (Protylopus). They 

 were of diminutive size — not above a foot in height. But 

 all developments in Nature resulting in new types were 

 probably initiated by very small creatures of their kind. It 

 is not surprising, therefore, that Camel-life commenced in a 

 small way. 



Some remarkable animals were living in Egypt in late 

 Eocene times. Coneys now are not larger than rabbits, but coneys 

 here were some as big as donkeys, and well-tusked to boot 

 (Megalohyrax Andrewsi). These giants were possibly the 

 wisest of the then Egyptians. Even the degenerate coneys of 

 Solomon's time were " exceeding wise." 



But there were some far more remarkable forms in Africa 

 than gigantic coneys. Remains of these more notable brutes 

 were first found by Mr. Beadnell in 1901. As the discovery 

 was made in a locality where the Egyptian Queen Arsinoe arsinoi- 

 had a palace, the animals have been named after that unhappy therium 

 lady (Arsinoitheriuin). 



These strange creatures were in some cases as large as 



K 



