u 



Chalicotherium bilobatum, Cope. 



Plate III, figs. 7, 8 and 9. 



Chalicotherium bilobatum, Cope, 1889. The Vertebrata of the Swift-current river, II, 

 American naturalist, vol. XXIII, p. 151. 



Chalicotherium bilobatum, Cope, 1891. The species from the Oligocene or Lower Miocene 

 of the Cypress hills ; Geol. Survey of Canada, Contr. to Can. Palseont., vol. Ill, 

 (quarto), pt. I, p. 8. 



The type specimen of this species has been described and figured by Cope in part I of 

 this volume. It consists of the coossified anterior ends of the mandibular rami, of which the 

 left is preserved backward a short distance beyond the posterior end of the symphysis, and 

 displays the alveoli of the second, third and fourth premolars, and of the first molar, with 

 part of that of the second molar. In advance of the second premolar are the remains of 

 alveoli for the canine, and three incisors. The bone is here slightly abraded, the alveoli 

 appearing as distinct but shallow depressions. Of those for the incisors, the first or inner- 

 most is the largest and deepest, and the third is the least distinct. That for the canine is 

 narrow transversely and twice as long as wide. A smooth surface to the bone passes out- 

 ward between the second premolar and the canine, representing a narrow diastema. It is 

 probable that the canine and incisor teeth were not present in the adult animal. There 

 is no indication of a first premolar. The roots of the three premolars are partially preserved. 



In his observations on the genus, following the specific description in the American 

 Naturalist (p. 152), Professor Cope proposed the order Ancylopoda for the reception of the 

 two genera Chalicotherium and Ancylotherium. These remarks, which do not appear in 

 the Contributions to Canadian Palaeontology, were as follows : — 



" Although this is the first announcement of the discovery of the genus Chalicotherium 

 in America, it is not the first discovery. Professor Scott showed me a series of superior 

 molars from the Loup Fork formation of Kansas, from the Agassiz Museum, which he 

 identified as belonging to this genus. The present species is of larger size than the Kansas 

 form, and is apparently equal to the C. goldfussi of the Upper Miocene of Europe. The 

 occurrence of this form in the Lower Miocene ("White River), as well as the Upper Miocene 

 (Loup Fork), of this country, is a noteworthy fact, but is parallel to its history in Europe. 

 Described from the Upper Miocene by Kaup, it was afterwards found in the Middle Miocene 

 (C. grande) by Lartet, and in the Upper Eocene (C. modicum) by Gaudry." 



" The remarkable character of this genus, a3 discovered by Filhol, has been already 

 mentioned in the Naturalist* It has little relation to the family of Perissodactyla, to which 

 it has given the name, and which it so resembles in molar dentition. It must form a family 

 by itself, and the genera with Avhich it has been associated must form a family to which the 

 name Lambdotheriidae may be applied. The anterior ungual phalanges of Chalicotherium 

 are of prehensile character, and not ungulate, but rather unguiculate. The phalanges 

 resemble those of the Edentata, but the carpus and tarsus are, according to Filhol, diplar- 

 throus in structure, while the Edentata are taxeopodous. "We have in the Chalicotheriidae 

 the antithesis of the Condylarthra. While the latter is ungulate, with an unguiculate carpus 

 and tarsus, the former is unguiculate, with an ungulate (diplarthrous) carpus and tarsus. 



* " Osbom on Chalicotherium, 18S8, p. 728." 



