560 CENOZOIC TIME — MAMMALIAN AGE. 



the bones, and also the bones of fellow-Hyenas ; and the bottom 

 of the cave was covered with the fragments. Calcareous excre- 

 ments were also abundant, quite similar to the excrements of the 

 modern Hyena of south Africa (H. crocuta). 



Some idea has been given of Britain in the age of Reptiles. The following 

 from Owen gives a later picture of England, — England in the Post-tertiary, the 

 last age before Man. 



" 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 swamps. The 

 lakes and rivers were tenanted by Hippopotamuses as bulky and with as for- 

 midable 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 dimen- 

 sions, wild Horses and Boars, a Wild-Cat, Lynx, Leopard, a British Tiger larger 

 than that of Bengal, and another Carnivore, as large, of the genus Mdchserodusj 

 which, " from the great length and sharpness of its sabre-shaped canines, some- 

 times 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 Hysena crocuta 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 extermi- 

 nation on the feebler quadrupeds." 



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

 Rocky Mountains, Wolves, and various smaller animals down to Bats, Moles, 

 Rats, and Mice. 



The remains of the Hysena spelsea have been found in France, Germany, and 

 Belgium, as well as England. The great Cave Bear ( Ursus sjjelseus) left its 

 bones in the same countries ; and the cavern at Gaylenreuth is said to have 

 afforded fragments of at least 800 individuals. 



The Elephant of the region was the Elephas primigenius, or Mam- 

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

 across the Siberian plains to the Arctic Ocean and Behrings 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 2000 

 grinders were dredged up by the fishermen of the little village of 

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

 and about England are also noted. 



This ancient Elephant was over twice the weight of the largest 

 modern species, and nearly a third taller. One of the tusks found 

 measures 12 J feet in length ; it was curved nearly into a circle, 

 though a little obliquely. Moreover, the body was covered with a 

 reddish wool and long black hair. The remains are exceedingly 

 abundant at Eschscholtz Bay, near Behrings Straits, where the ivory 



