924 



HISTORICAL GEOLOGY. 



1546. 



Calcaire grossier, and the beds of the Montmartre Quarries are referred to 

 the upper section of the Eocene in French geology ; the hitter is the Lower 

 Oligocene of other parts of Euroj)e. 



The same general facts are true with regard to the Mammals of the 

 Lower Miocene corresponding to the White River beds of America, desig- 

 nated Upper Oligocene in Germany, and to those of the later Miocene and 

 Pliocene. 



Among the species of the Upper Eocene, brought to new existence by 

 Cuvier from the beds in the vicinity of Paris, one of the most characteristic 

 is the Paleothere (named from TraAatds, ancient, and drjp, wild beast), related 



to the Tapir in its elongated nose and 

 other respects. The restoration by 

 Cuvier has a close resemblance to the 

 figure of the Tapir on page 905. 

 The largest species of the genus, 

 Palmotheriiim magnum Cuv., was of 

 the size of a horse, and a smaller, 

 P. curtum Cuv., not larger than a 

 sheep. The restoration by Cuvier 

 has the stout form of the Tapir ; 

 but a skeleton, discovered in 1874, 

 referred to this species, has the 

 long neck and nearly the figure of a 

 Llama. With the Paleothere were 

 Tapir-like beasts of the genus Lophio- 

 don, and others. Higher in the series were found the remains of Anoplo- 

 theres and XipJiodons, Artiodactyls related to' the Ruminants in their feet, 

 but at the same time having some characters of the Hogs. The Xiphodons 

 were of slender form (Fig. 1546). The species were remarkable for having 

 the full number of teeth, 44, and the set of teeth as even in outline as in 

 Man, the eye-tooth having nothing of the elongation which is common in 

 brutes and is so striking a part of the armature of Hogs and Carnivores ; 

 and hence the name Anoplothere, from avoirXos, unarmed, and 6^p. With the 

 Anoplotheres, there were also Hog-like Artiodactyls, species of Chceropotamus 

 and of other genera. The fauna included also various Carnivores, Rodents, 

 Ba,ts, and an Opossum. The Carnivores included a Wolf, Canis Parisiensis, 

 the Weasel-like Cynodon Parisiensis; and the Creodonts, the Dog-like Hyoe- 

 nodon dasyuroides, etc. 



In the Miocene occur the earliest of Mastodons, Elephants, and the still 

 stranger Elephant-like animal, the Dinothere, besides Paleotheres and other 

 Tapir-like beasts, new Carnivores, Monkeys, Deer, Antelopes, and the 

 first Edentates. 



Fig. 1547 represents, much reduced, the skull of the Dinothere (Dino- 

 therium giganteum Kaup). The head carried a trunk, and two tusks, like 

 an Elephant; but the tusks were turned downward. There is a mixture 



Xiphodon gracilis, as restored by Cuvier. 



