CENOZOIC TIME — TERTIARY. 



903 



Moreover, the types are generally comprehensive or intermediate kinds. 

 The flesh-eaters are intermediate in their teeth and other characters between 

 Carnivores and Insectivores, and have been referred by Cope to a separate 

 group named Creodonts, from the Greek iox flesh and tooth. Another group 

 has some of the features of the Tillodonts, Rodents, and Ungulates ; and 

 the Ungulates also have some of the characteristics of Carnivores or 

 Quadrumana. 



The prototypic features are presented by species of the genera Phena- 

 codus, Coryphodon, and many others. They are well illustrated, as pointed 

 out by Cope, in the Phenacodus primoevus, described by him from a speci- 

 men found in the Wasatch beds (Fig. 1517). Besides the primitive features 

 of 44 teeth, of five similar toes to both fore and hind feet, of the carpal 

 in series with the digits (Figs. 1517 a, h), the feet were probably planti- 

 grade, the foot striking the ground with the whole sole, instead of being 



1517. 



Mammal. — Phenacodus primaevus (x j^). Cope. 



raised on the toes (digitigrade). The animal is supposed to have been 

 omnivorous, from its teeth. The length of the body was about four feet. 

 The Creodonts (prototypic Carnivores) of the Puerco beds also are described 

 by Cope as plantigrade species. 



These characters are also well exhibited, as shown by Marsh, in species 

 of Coryphodon from the Wasatch group. A restoration of Coryphodon 

 hamatus of Marsh is represented in Fig. 1518, and the fore feet and hind 

 feet in Figs. 1518 a, b. The length of the body was six feet. The special 

 prototypic features of the feet and limbs are manifest, after the above state- 

 ments, without special remarks. The animal was digitigrade, and had 

 short, nearly equal toes, a type of foot which is represented also in the 

 modern Elephant. 



An early genus in the line of the Tapir is Systemodon of Cope, represented 

 by S. tapirinus from the Wasatch. Besides other primitive features, it has 

 the teeth in a continuous series, there being no interval (diastema) between 

 the canines and the premolars. 



