THE MIOCENE PERIOD. 315 



the more important forms can be here alluded to. Amongst 

 the Marsupials, the Old World still continued to possess 

 species of Opossum {Didephys), allied to the existing American 

 forms. The Edentates (Sloths, Armadillos, and Ant-eaters), at 

 the present day mainly South American, are represented by 

 two large European forms. One of these is the large Macro- 

 theriwn giganteuni of the Upper Miocene of Gers in Southern 

 France, which appears to have been in many respects allied to 

 the existing Scaly Ant-eaters or Pangolins, at the same time 

 that the disproportionately long fore-limbs would indicate that 

 it possessed the climbing habits of the Sloths. The other is 

 the still more gigantic Ancylvtheriimi Pentelici of the Upper 

 Miocene of Pikerme, which seems to have been as large as, or 

 larger than, the Rhinoceros, and which must have been terres- 

 trial in its habits. This conclusion is further borne out by the 

 comparative equality of length which subsists between the fore 

 and hind limbs, and is not aftected by the curvature and 

 crookedness of the claws, this latter feature being well marked 

 in such existing terrestrial P2dentates as the Great Ant-eater. 



The aquatic Sirenians and Cetaceans are represented in 

 Miocene times by various forms of no special importance. 

 Amongst the former, the previously existing genus Halitherium 

 continued to survive, and amongst the latter we meet with 

 remains of Dolphins and of Whales of the ''Zeuglodont" 

 family. We may also note here the first appearance of true 

 " Whalebone Whales," two species of which, resembling the 

 living " Right Whale " of Arctic seas, and belonging to the 

 same genus {Balcsna), have been detected in the Miocene 

 beds of North America. 



The great order of the Ungulates or Hoofed Quadrupeds is 

 very largely developed in strata of Miocene age, various new 

 types of this group making their appearance here for the first 

 time, whilst some of the characteristic genera of the preceding 

 period are still represented under new shapes. Amongst the 

 Odd-toed or " Perissodactyle " Ungulates, we meet for the first 

 time with representatives of the family RhinoceridcE compris- 

 ing only the existing Rhinoceroses. In India in the Upper 

 Miocene beds of the Siwalik Hills, and in North America, 

 several species of Rhinoceros have been detected, agreeing with 

 the existing forms in possessing three toes to each foot, and in 

 having one or two solid fibrous '' horns " carried upon the front 

 of the head. On the other hand, the forms of this group which 

 distinguish the Miocene deposits of Europe appear to have 

 been for the most part hornless, and to have resembled the 

 Tapirs in having three-toed hind-feet, but four-toed fore-feet. 



