600 



THE UNIVERSE. 



were sometimes as big as a horse, as was the case with 

 the great Palteotherium ; others scarcely reached that of a 

 hare. 



The Anoplotheria Avere of more slender make, and had 

 long powerful tails. According to Cuvier, the Anoplotke- 

 r'mm commune had some analogy Avith the otter, but was 

 of larger size. This naturalist thought that it dived with 

 ease, in order to seek for the roots and succulent stems 

 Avhich comjjosed its food. 



The remains of the Paleeotheria and Anoplotheria 





28o. Tlie Great Palieotherium — Pahfutlierium iiKtrjnum (Cuviur). 



abound in the gypsum of the quarries near Paris, and 

 there are some in which they lie so thick that every blow 

 of the pickaxe exhumes some of their remains from these 

 antediluvian charnel-houses. This fact eA'idently proves 

 that these mammals lived in dense herds near the banks 

 of the ancient fresh waters of the Paris basin. 



