﻿LATER PLIOCENE EPOCH 183 



potamuses than their Indian forerunners of the early Pliocene 



(H. amphibius). Ancestors of the modern wild boars of swine' 



Europe were now to be seen among the swine (5. scrofa) ; 



also some new pig-forms (5. arvernensis). The latter seem 



to have been related to the Bush pigs of Africa, and had, 



it may be supposed, come from that continent — probably by 



land-routes that have long since been submerged. Giraffes giraffes 



had migrated to other scenes. Antelopes were still in Europe, antelopes 



but, like the tapirs, they were greatly diminished in number. 



Many of them, doubtless, had crossed to Africa. Ruminants, 



however, were well represented by oxen, and several species oxen 



of deer. Some of the latter were simply antlered, and appear deer 



to have been descendants of the muntjac-like deer of the 



earlier Pliocene (Cervulus). Whilst other forms possessed 



antlers of roe-deer pattern (C. cusanus); and forefathers of 



the red deer were also exploring the plains (C. elephus). 



Remains have been found of a wonderfully antlered 

 form (C. Sedgwicki). This animal — probably broad-footed 

 like the Marsh Deer, and well-tailed like the Eland — possessed 

 antlers of excessive size and elaboration. Indeed, the arma- 

 ture must have been too cumbersome and complex for 

 effective service. As exaggerated development is often a 

 symptom of racial old age, this over-antlered form probably 

 represented a race of deer approaching extinction. The 

 history of the race in its youth and prime is quite unknown. 

 Indeed, almost in a single breath, one gives greeting and 

 farewell to these picturesque creatures. 



Oxen, although in Asia in the earlier Pliocene, do not oxen 

 appear to have invaded Europe during that epoch, but they 

 were certainly there in the latter part of the Period. They 

 may well have been of more active habits than our domestic 

 cattle ; but probably they differed very little from them in 

 structure (Bos primigenius). It is doubtful, however, if 

 any of the females on either continent had as yet been pro- 

 vided with horns. 



Wolves abounded in Europe ; but the " sabre-toothed " carnivores 

 cats still continued the most formidable of the carnivores 

 (Machcerodus). The latter, however, doubtless paid most 

 attention to mastodons, elephants, and rhinoceroses, whose 



