240 



THE WORLD OF LIFE 



and has affinities with a curious little existing animal, the 

 hyrax. 



Fig. 76. — Skull of Arsinoitherium zitteli. 

 From the Upper Eocene of the Fayoum, Egypt. One-twelfth nat. size. 



(B.M. Guide.) 



Order — Camivora 



These can also be traced back to middle or late Eocene 

 times both in l^orth America and Europe. They were mod- 

 erate-sized animals, forming a distinct sub-order, Creodonta, 

 the skeleton of one of which is shown in Fisr. 77. Thev had 

 flesh-eating teeth, but more like those of the carnivorous mar- 

 supials of Australia than of our living carnivores, with a type 

 of skeleton showing considerable litrhtness and activity. Some 

 of the species were as large as lions. 



