238 
EXTINCT MONSTERS 
The great theory of Evolution was first dimly suggested by S 
Greek philosophers, such as Anaximander (b.c. 610), who may 
have derived the idea from Egyptian, Babylonian, or Hindu j 
sources ; then revived, in a more scientific form, by Lamarck 1 
last centmy. Eifty-two years ago it was placed on a truly | 
I 
scientific basis by the illustrious Charles Darwin, and is now 
generally accepted by naturalists and palaeontologists. Indeed, 
it is hard to be a palaeontologist in these days without being also 
an evolutionist — so abundant is the evidence derived from a 
study of extinct animals. Year by year the evidence is accumu- 
lating, and many workers in various parts of the world are dis- 
covering long-lost types which appear to link together some of 
the branches of the great Tree of Life. Marsh and Cope in 
America ; Owen, Huxley, and others in England ; have all been 
directing our ideas in the same course. At Pikermi in Attica ; 
in the far Western States in America; at Sansans, Allier, 
Leberon and other localities in France, such great and important 
additions have been made of late to our knowledge, that it is 
now possible to make out certain lines of evolution in the 
Mammalia since their first important outburst at the beginning 
of the Tertiary period. 
We now propose to trace, in the light of recent discoveries, 
the history of one important living group, as represented by the 
horse. 
The series of fossil horses now known is so complete, that 
hardly a single important gap is left between the original five- 
toed ancestor, and the horse of to-day, with only one toe to each 
foot ! Here, then, we have the most perfect evidence of the 
evolution of an animal from distant ages in the earth’s history 
that has ever been presented to the world! Professor Cope’s 
