134 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXTINCT ANIMALS. [part ii. 
Mephitis or skunk ; Herpetotherium, near the moles ; Embasis , 
more allied to the shrews ; and Dommina, of uncertain affinities. 
Two others have been found in the Eocene of Wyoming ; Amomys , 
having some resemblance to hedgehogs and to the Eastern Tupaia; 
and WashaJdus, of doubtful affinities. 
Ear back in the Triassic coal of North Carolina lias been found 
the jaw of a small mammal ( Dromotherimn ), the teeth of which 
somewhat resemble those of the Australian Myrmecobius , and 
may belong either to the Insectivora or Marsupials ; if indeed, at 
that early period these orders were differentiated. 
Carnivora. — The most ancient forms of this order are some 
remains found in the Middle Eocene of Wyoming, and others 
recently described by Professor Cope (1875) from the Eocene of 
New Mexico, of perhaps earlier date. The former consist of three 
genera, Patriofclis , Vintacyon, and Sinopa , — animals of large size 
but which cannot be classed in any existing family ; and two 
others, Mcsonyx and Synopl othcrium, believed by Mr. Cope to be 
allied to Ilycenodon. The latter consist of four genera, — Oxycma, 
consisting of several species, some as large as a jaguar, was 
allied to Ilycenodon and Pterodon ; Pachyama., allied to the last ; 
Prototomus, allied to Amphicyon and the Viverridse ; and Lim- 
nocyon , a civet-like carnivore with resemblances to the Canidse. 
In the Miocene formations we find the Feline type well deve- 
loped. The wonderful Machairodus, which in Europe lived down 
to Post-Pliocene times, is found in the Upper Miocene of Dakota ; 
and perfect crania have been discovered, showing that the chin 
was lengthened downwards to receive and protect the enormous 
canines, Dinyctis was allied both to Machairodus and to the 
weasels. Three new genera have been lately described by Professor 
Cope from the Miocene of Colorado, — Buncdurus, with characters 
of both cats and weasels ; Paptophilus, allied to Dinyctis ; and 
Jloplophoncus, more allied to Machairodus. The Canidse are re- 
presented by Amphicyon, which occurs in deposits of the same 
age in Europe ; and by Canis, four species of which genus are 
recorded by Professor Cope from the Miocene of Colorado, and it 
also occurs in the Pliocene. The Ilycenodon is represented by 
three species in the Miocene of Dakota and Colorado. It occurs 
