EARLIER PLIOCENE EPOCH 177 



times had adopted more or less aquatic habits, and that their hippo- 

 descendants underwent various modifications, and finally potamuses 

 issued as hippopotamuses. However that may have been, 

 hippopotamuses of primitive type — with more teeth than 

 modern forms — were certainly at this time puffing and 

 grunting in Indian waters (H. sivalensis, H. iravaticus). 



Long-necked giraffes were here and there plucking the giraffes 

 foliage of mimosa and acacia trees. So far as can be ascer- 

 tained these animals did not differ from modern giraffes. 

 The giraffe family, however, was not represented in India 

 solely by these highly developed forms. As in Europe there 

 were many short-necked and heavily built animals more 

 or less representative of earlier stages of evolution. These 

 vanishing types were weU-armed beasts, and in some cases 

 almost attained the dimensions of elephants. Sivatherium, 

 the most notable of this strange company, was crowned 

 with stout antlers, and further armed with a pair of horns, 

 just above the eyes. Such beasts, though unable, like their 

 long-necked relatives, to note the approach of danger at 

 great distances, were of course much better able to take care 

 of themselves when pressed at close quarters. In spite, 

 however, of their bulk and elaborate armature, they were 

 not on the roll of Evolution's effectives. 



In the desert regions camels, content with poor fare, camels 

 wandered in comparative safety (Camelus). They were 

 doubtless descendants of North American forms, that had 

 found their way to Asia by a land connection existing on 

 or near the site of Behring Strait. The animals of which 

 remains have been found in India more nearly resembled 

 modern camels than did their Miocene ancestors of the 

 American continent, as their teeth were reduced to the 

 present regulation number. The character, however, of 

 their molars shows that their distinction from lamas was 

 not so great as is the case with camels of our own time. 



Goats were scrambHng about the heights, preferring, goats 

 like the camels, peace and simple fare to the luxurious but 

 risky life in lowland pastures. This is the first appearance 

 of these animals in geological history ; but as there were 

 several species, their annals must have commenced in much 



N 



