THE CENOZOIC AGE. 219 



The Insectivera (animals with molars having short points) were, 

 represented by many genera and species, indicating a great fullness 

 of insect life during the early Eocene times. 



The Carnivora were already abundant. They were like the 

 preceding orders, of a remarkably comprehensive type. One of 

 the most curious was the Mesonyx abtusidens, described by Cope. 

 It was as large as our timber wolf, but with a more slender body 

 behind. The cheek bones were more prominent than in the wolves 

 and the tail more like that of the dogs. The phalanges of the first 

 series were elongated and curved, as in the cats, but like the dogs 

 it walked on its toes (digitigrade). The foot, moreover, was short, 

 and the claws flat and more adapted to aquatic use than prehensile 

 {grasping). The number of its molars exceeded that of any recent 

 families of carnivora. The teeth, though sectorial, are not so to the 

 same extent as in existing carnivora, the cutting edge being dull and 

 uccupying but half the crown. While, therefore, dog-like, it had 

 many characters relating it to other families. Still more curious 

 was an animal called by Cope Synoplotherium lanius. Its claws 

 approximated in character to the seals. The lower canines pro- 

 jected forwards, and were of large size and came so close together 

 that there was no room in front for the incisors. They, however, 

 rested against the incisors of the upper jaw, and latterly against 

 the upper canines. In other particulars, this animal resembled the 

 bears and the hyaenodons that appeared in the next or Miocene 

 epoch. The peculiar approach and projecting form of the lower 

 canines, was doubtless, as Cope has suggested, a modification of 

 structure for special habits, which was the destruction and devour- 

 ing of turtles, which so wonderfully abounded on land, lake and sea, 

 during early Eocene times. 



Sinopa rapax was an animal that was intermediate in position 

 between the wolves and the dogs, and about the size of the red fox. 

 Canis montanis is described by Marsh as a species of wolf, larger 

 than the grey wolf. 



Patriofelis ulta (Father of the Cats?) described by Leidy, was 

 related to the panther and the dog familv, with some characters 

 approaching the weasels and civets. It was considerably larger 

 than the former. 



The Quadrumana, the order to which the monkeys and man be- 

 longs, were represented during this, period by at least eight species, 

 among which the following were characteristic forms. Timotheri- 



