﻿EARLIER PLIOCENE EPOCH 171 



ence had been adjusted in the Miocene, and the tooth dis- 

 similarity had now disappeared, the animals were practically 

 indistinguishable from modern tapirs. They were certainly 

 prosperous in Europe at this time. At the present day their 

 descendants, like the okapi, lead obscure lives in very limited 

 areas. 



Herds of elephants were still enjoying life in Europe elephants 

 amid the high grasses and in woodland scenes. They appear 

 to have been identical in form with those of the last Period — 

 the four-tusked animals with greatly elongated lower jaws 

 (Tetrabelodon), and the still quainter creatures with down- 

 ward-bent chins terminating with sabre-like " ivories " 

 (Dinothermm). The latter animals were of larger size than 

 earlier forms ; but, beyond that fact, no European probos- 

 cideans showed any advance in development. Elephants, 

 however, had made considerable progress elsewhere, as will 

 be seen when we reach India. 



Rhinoceros-life in Europe presented some fresh phases of rhino- 

 e volution. The oncoming horned animals were more modern- ceroses 

 ised, and variously developed. Some of them seem to have 

 been close-allied to the now living Sumatran species (R. 

 Schleiermacheri) ; whilst others were intimately related to 

 the so-called Black Rhinoceros now confined to Africa 

 (JR. pachygnathus). Hornless male rhinoceroses, with a line- 

 age dating to a remote past, were now on their last legs 

 (Aceratheriurri) ; and long before the close of the Period 

 they became extinct. The only hornless rhinoceroses of the 

 future were of the gentler sex. If any female rhinoceroses 

 in early Pliocene times were horned is doubtful. A cry of 

 " horns for women " certainly came in later times, and was 

 to a certain extent successful. 



Here and there a few hyaena-shaped beasts, with claws bent ancylopods 

 like a scaly ant-eater's, were grinding grassy food with teeth 

 much as those of a rhinoceros. These and some fellow-forms 

 that had found their way to Asia were, no doubt, survivors 

 and also final representatives of an old family well in view 

 in the Oligocene Period (Chalicotheriidce). 



Away on the hills deer of various kinds were roaming, deer 

 Some of them had antlers simply forked like the modern 



