PART IX 



RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ARMADILLO, THE RHINO- 

 CEROS, THE HORSE, THE GIRAFFE, AND THE ZEBU 



In order that we may be able to decipher more fully the hiero- 

 glyphics so profusely scattered on the exterior surface of the 

 domestic Horses, we have to study the exterior of the various 

 species of Rhinoceros a little in detail. 



Zoologists admit, if I interpret their writings correctly, that 

 the Horse is not only allied to the Rhinoceros, but that very 

 probably the Horse's one digit has descended from the enlarged 

 middle or third digit of some Rhinocero-Tapiroid ancestor. 



Then 'the crowns of the lower true molars consist in their simplest 

 structure of two transverse ridges (as in the Tapir), but these ridges 

 may be curved into crescents (as in the Rhinoceros), or complicated 

 by foldings and convolutions (as in the Horse). The transition 

 from the simplest brachydont (or short-toothed), to the most 

 specialised hypsodont dentition (or tall-toothed) is accompanied by 

 a reduction of the number of the digits from four or three to one ; 

 that one being the third or middle of the typical series of five.' ^ 



If we direct our attention to the hide of the Indian Rhinoceros; 

 we seem to feel a sort of conviction that the scapular and pelvic 

 hide-shields of this huge mammal are homologous with the bony 

 scapular and pelvic shields of the Armadillos. We seem to feel also- 



^ Manual of Palaoniology, by Nicholson and Lydekker, p. 13S3. 



