﻿128 EVOLUTION IN THE PAST 



these were long-tailed, web-footed creatures ; and appear 

 to have been compounds, so to speak, of cats and otters 

 (Patrio felts). Being of aquatic habits they probably sus- 

 tained themselves chiefly on fishes and reptiles. Nothing is 

 known of their later history. It was at one time supposed 

 that they were remote ancestors of seals ; but this compli- 

 ment is not now paid to their remains. 



Other animals, living in the same region, were long-bodied 

 creatures, and appear to have been an interweave, so to 

 speak, of wolves and hyaenas (Mesonyx). In the course of 

 their lives they sampled probably a great variety of meat, 

 fresh and otherwise ; but it is supposed they had a special 

 liking for turtle-flesh. 



Flesh-eaters of old type still abounded in late Eocene 

 times ; and new forms, rather smaller than hyaenas, made 

 their appearance (Hycenodon). The teeth of these animals 

 had been modified, but they were not so much of butcher 

 pattern as those of true carnivores. They were small- 

 brained brutes, and rather weak in the limb. They ranged, 

 however, far and wide ; for remains of them have been found 

 in Europe, Egypt, and North America. 



Before the close of the Period some of the flesh-eaters, 

 both in tooth and limb, closely resembled living members of 

 the Dog family (Cynodictis). They may, therefore, be 

 described as true carnivores. Owing to the shape of their 

 skulls they must have looked more like civets than dogs. 

 They were in a sense, therefore, an amalgam of animals now 

 belonging to different families. 

 ruminants The dangers of feeding in public had compelled some of 

 the herbivores to adopt a new mode of living. Among the 

 hoofed animals of late Eocene times forms appeared who, to 

 judge by their teeth, bolted vegetable food and then betook 

 themselves to some obscure retreat, where the pabulum 

 was brought back to the mouth to be chewed and re- 

 swallowed. 



Among these incipient cud-chewers, or ruminants, were 

 certain animals of somewhat pig-like aspect {Anthraco- 

 therium). Others were small, long-necked, long-tailed crea- 

 tures of deer-like appearance (Anoplotheria). The latter 





