118 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii. 
Wight. The Malayan family Tupaiidse or squirrel-shrews, is 
believed to be represented by Oxygomplms , a fossil discovered in 
South Germany (Wiesenau) by IT. von Meyer. The Soricidae or 
shrews, are represented by several extinct genera — Plesiosorcx, 
]\[ysarachne and Gateospalax ; as well as by Amphisorex and Myo- 
gale still living. EchiTiogale, a genus of Centetidse now confined 
to Madagascar, is said to occur in the Lower Miocene of Auvergne, 
a most interesting determination, if correct, as it would form a 
transition to the Solenodon of the Antilles belonging to the same 
family ; but I am informed by Prof. Flower that the affinities of 
the animals described under this name are very doubtful. 
Carnivora. — Besides Felis and Machaircdus, which extend back 
to the Upper Miocene, there are two other genera of Felidae, 
Pseudcdurus in the Upper Miocene of France, and Hycenodon, 
which occurs in the Upper and Lower Miocene of France, named 
from some resemblance in its teeth to the hyaenas, and considered 
by some Palaeontologists to form a distinct family, Hyaenodontidae. 
The Viverridae, or civets, were very numerous, consisting of the 
living genus Viverra, aiid three extinct forms — Thalassictis= 
Ietitherium , as large as a panther, and Soricictis, a smaller form, 
occurring both in France and Hungary. Of Hycc7iidoe r there was 
the living genus Hyocna , and the extinct Hycenidis , which has 
occurred in Hungary as well as in Greece. The Canidae, or 
wolf and fox family, were represented by Pseudocyon, near to 
Canis; Hemicyon , intermediate between dogs and gluttons; 
and Amphicyon, of which several species occur in the Upper 
and Lower Miocene of France, some of them larger than a 
tiger. The Mustelidae, or weasels, were represented by five 
genera, the existing genera Lutra (otter) and Mustela (weasel) ; 
Potaraotherium, an extinct form of otter ; Taxodon, allied to the 
badger and otter; Paheomephitis in Germany, and the Prome- 
phytis (already noticed) in Greece. The bears were represented 
only by Hyccnarctos, which has been noticed as occurring in 
the Pliocene, and first appears in the Upper Miocene of France. 
Seals are represented by a form resembling the Antarctic 
Otaria, remains of which occur in the Upper Miocene of 
France. 
