208 



ON ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, AND THE 



Russia, and both Americas, have amply contributed to the collection. But 

 it is to the hmestone quarries of iEningen and Gaylenreuth, and the alter- 

 nating quarries of Paris, that it is chiefly indebted for its very interesting 

 supply of the animal remains of a former world. 



We have not time to travel even over an outline of this wonderful re- 

 pository. Those who have no opportunity of examining it on the spot, 

 may be abundantly gratified by a perusal of M . Cuvier's valuable and ex- 

 tensive work on the fossil remains of quadrupeds :* which, though chiefly 

 devoted to this particular class, is nevertheless rich in its history of ex- 

 tinct kinds and species of birds, amphibials, and fishes. We can only 

 glance at a few of the more striking of the whole collection. 



These are to be found chiefly in the class of mammals, and especially 

 among the largest kinds. The gypsum formation of Paris, supposed to 

 be a fresh-water deposite, has furnished M. Cuvier with two entirely origin 

 nal genera, and each genus with several species, the whole of which ap* 

 pear to be utterly extinct. 



To these he has given the name of palaeotherium and anoplotherium,: 

 or OLDEN-BEAST, in allusiou to its existence in the olden times ; and de- 

 fenceless BEAST, in allusion to the want of canine teeth in the genus 

 designates. Both genera belong to the Linnean order of belluje or WAKi 

 KioR-BEASTS, and the Cuverian order of pachydermata or thick-skinned. 



The station of the first is allotted in this order after the tapir, and be-, 

 fore the rhinoceros and the horse, which gives us the best idea of its gene-^^ 

 ral character. It is generically distinguished by having forty-four teeth, 

 in each jaw six fore-teeth, two incisors, fourteen molars : snout extended, ^ 

 flexible. ; fore and hind-feet quadrifid. 



The gypsum quarries alone have furnished five distinct species of this' 

 very singular animal, in a more or less perfect state of its skeleton, — 

 1. Palaeotherium magnum^ of the size of the horse. 2. P. medium^ and 

 3. P. crassum, each of a size of the hog. 4. P. curtum^ with decurtate, 

 patulous feet. 5. P. minus, of the size of a sheep. Besides which, five 

 other species have been discovered in other parts of France, imbedded in 

 freshwater limestone, or in alluvial soil; one of them, "P. giganteum, 

 as large as the rhinoceros ; and another, P. tapiroides^ of the size of 

 an ox. 



The second species, or anoplotherium, is somewhat smaller, and has 

 its station assigned between the rhinoceros or the horse on the one hand, 

 and the hippopotamus, hog, and camel on the other. It has forty-four 

 teeth in a continuous series : being, in each jaw, six fore-teeth ; two in- 

 cisors, not longer than the fore-teeth ; fourteen molars ; fore and hind 

 feet bifid, with distinct metacarpal and metatarsal bones ; and accessary 

 digits in a few. This genus also offers four species, varying from the size 

 of the horse or ass, to that of the leopard or elegant gazelle. 



There is also another genus of entirely extinct quadrupeds, belonging 

 to the same order, and of still larger magnitude, which M. Cuvier has 

 been able to constitute, from remains found in diflTerent parts of the world, 

 to which he has given the name of mastodon. It makes a near approach 

 to the elephant, and in one or two of its species vies with it in size. The 

 ascertained species are five ; the largest of which, called the great mas- 

 todon, has been found in considerable abundance near the river Ohio ; 



* See also Mr. Kerr's Translation of M. CuTier's Essay on the Theory of the Earth, ivitfc 

 Professor Jamegon's Notes, 8TOo~-Edin» 



