MIOCENE PERIOD i6i 



They were still in the making ; and in the process some 

 curious brutes had incidentally appeared, as had Titano- 

 theres in the gradual evolving of rhinoceros life. These 

 elephantine by-products are known as Dinotheres. They had 

 long sloping faces, much unhke those of modern elephants ; 

 and they possessed also elongated lower jaws. This jaw, 

 instead of shooting straight out, had a strong downward 

 curve, as if the trunk no longer required its support. The 

 upper jaw seems to have been tuskless, but the bent chin 

 terminated with a pair of powerful sabre-shaped " ivories." 

 The animals doubtless used these implements in self-defence, 

 and also industrially, such as for rooting up plants ; and in 

 times of drought they may have employed them in turning 

 over big stones in dried-up river-beds, in hopes of finding 

 water. 



Dinotheres wandered about Europe, Africa, and Asia in 

 this and part of the succeeding Period. So far as is known 

 they never found their way to America. The straight-chinned 

 forms, on the other hand, discovered North America at the 

 close of this Period (Tetrahelodon). They had probably 

 travelled from Asia by means of a land connection existing 

 on or near the site of Behring Strait. 



South America was not at this time connected with the south 

 northern continent, and its mammal life was for the most America 

 part of a pecuUar and sleepy character. Sloths, armadillos, 

 and such-like unenterprising animals here held an important 

 position. They were, moreover, far from their zenith ; for 

 in later times, as will be seen, they developed to an astonish- 

 ing extent. 



Ground-sloths abounded in a variety of forms ; but their ground- 

 anatomical differences were naturally not so marked as sloths 

 were those of later species. The nearer the source the greater 

 the resemblance. Many of them were quite diminutive 

 creatures — mere pigmies in comparison with later forms ; nor 

 do they seem to have walked so much on the outer side of 

 the feet as did succeeding ground-sloths. Some large forms 

 were also abroad — five feet and more in length ; and by 

 raising themselves on their hind-limbs they must have been 

 able to get the pick of the fohage (Hapalops). Many of the 



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