564 



CENOZOIC TIME. 



though, of unusual size, is now regarded as of the same species with 

 the Hyaena crocuta Zimm., of South Africa ; and the Cave Lion, or 

 Felis spelcea, as a variety of Felis leo Linn., or the Lion of Africa. 



In a cavern at Kirkdale, one of the earliest explored, Hyena bones 

 and teeth belonging to about three hundred individuals were mingled 

 with remains of extinct species of Elephant or Mammoth (JElephas 

 primigenius), Bear, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Deer, along with the 

 Cave Lion, the Brown Bear ( Ursus Arctos Linn.), the Horse, Hare, 

 etc., — all of which then populated Britain. The Hyenas hither dragged 

 the dead carcasses they found, and lived on the bones, and also on the 

 bones of fellow Hyenas ; and the bottom, of the cave was covered 

 with the fragments. Calcareous excrements are also abundant, quite 

 similar to the excrements of the modern Hyena. 



Kent's Hole, near Torquay, has afforded bones of the Mammoth, Rhinoceros (R. 

 tichorinus), Cave Bear, Cave Lion, Cave Hyena, Irish Deer, Machcerodus tatidens Owen, 

 besides relics of Man, in the form of flint implements ; and the Brixham Cave, in the 

 same vicinity, in addition to flint implements, bones of the Cave Bear, Brown Bear, 

 Grizzly Bear ( U.ferox), Elephant, Cave Hyena, Cave Lion, Wolf, Fox, Modern Horse, 

 Reindeer, Goat, Irish Deer, Elk, modern Hare and Rabbit, Wild Boar, Lagomys spe- 

 Iceus Owen, Aurochs (Bos primi genius Boj.), etc. 



Some idea has been given of Britain in the age of Reptiles (p. 485). The following, 

 from Owen, gives a later picture of England, — England in the Middle Quaternary. 



" Gigantic Elephants, of nearly twice the bulk of the largest individuals that now 

 exist in Ceylon and Africa, roamed here in herds, if we may judge from the abundance 

 of their remains. Two-horned Rhinoceroses, of at least two species, forced their way 

 through the ancient forests, or wallowed in the sw;imps. The lakes and rivers were 

 tenanted by Hippopotamuses, as bulky and with as formidable tusks as those of Africa. 

 Three kinds of wild Oxen, two of which were of colossal strength, and one of these 

 maned and villous like the Bonassus, found subsistence in the plains." There were 

 also Deer of gigantic dimensions, wild Horses and Boars, a Wild-cat, L}mx, Leopard, 

 a British Tiger, larger than that of Bengal, and another Carnivore, as large, of the 

 genus Machcerodus, which, " from the great length and sharpness of its sabre-shaped 

 canines, sometimes eight inches long, was probably the most ferocious and destructive 

 of its peculiarly carnivorous family." "Besides these," continues Professor Owen, 

 " troops of Hyenas, larger than the fierce Hyama crocuta Zimm. of South Africa, which 

 they most resembled, crunched the bones of the carcasses relinquished by the nobler 

 beasts of prey, and doubtless often themselves waged a war of extermination on the 

 feebler quadrupeds." 



There were also in Britain a savage Bear, larger than the Grizzly Bear of the Rocky 

 Mountains, Wolves, a gigantic Beaver (Trogontherium), and various smaller animals, 

 down to Bats, Moles, Rats, and Mice. The Horse (Equus fossilis Meyer), though of very 

 large size, is regarded as of the same species with the modern Horse (E. caballus). 



The more common Elephant of the region was the Elephas primi- 

 genius. It lived in herds over England, and extended its wanderings 

 across the Siberian plains to the Arctic Ocean and Behring Straits, 

 and beyond into North America ; but it seems not to have gone far 

 south of the parallel of 40°. It is stated by Woodward that over two 

 thousand grinders were dredged up by the fishermen of the little vil- 

 lage of Happisburgh, in the space of thirteen years ; and other localities 

 in and about England are also noted. 



