84 
TEirriAKY VERTEBRATA OF THE FAYEM. 
The occurrence of Ilyracoids in Samos and Pikermi, associated with an African type 
of fauna including such forms as Orjjcteropus and giraffe-like animals, pointed strongly 
to Africa as the early home of these animals, as was suggested by Osborn, Stehlin, 
and others. The correctness of this view is now amply proved by the discovery in 
the Up])er Eocene beds of Egypt of a number of Hyracoids, some of them of 
considerable size. Unfortunately, at present only the teeth and portions of the skull 
are known, and these throw little or no light on the vexed question of the affinities of 
this most peculiar group of mammals ; in fact, it is most remarkable that at a period 
so remote as the Upper Eocene so little difference from the modern types existed 
that, so far as can be seen, the Plyraces were almost as distinct from other groups 
of mammals as they are at the present day. The only point of importance in which 
these earlier forms are more primitive, is in the possession of premolars which are all 
simpler than the molars. The presence of a talon in the posterior upper and lower 
molars seems to be of no special significance, since its absence in the later forms is a 
recently-acquired character, the roots that supported this posterior lobe still remaining 
and in some cases traces of the talon itself of the last lower molar being preserved. 
It is to be hoped that remains of members of the order may be found in the Middle 
Eocene beds, so that some light may be thrown on the relationship of this with other 
groups. All that can be said at present is, that in Upper Eocene times in the Ethiopian 
Region the Hyracoidea formed a very important factor in the fauna. 
Eamily SAGHATHERIID^. 
Hy racoids which possess the full eutherian dentition in the upper jaw. The 
anterior incisors modified to form trihedral rootless tusks; i. 1 and i. 2 separated from 
one another and from the teeth in front by diastemata. Canines premolariform and 
in contact with the anterior premolar. Cheek-teeth brachyodont ; premolars simpler 
than the molars ; a talon to the last lower molar. 
Genus SAGHATHERIUM, Andrews & Eeadnell. 
[Prelim. Note on .some new Mammats from the Upper Eocene of Efrypt, p. .'i (Survey Department, 
Cairo, U)U2).] 
Hyracoids of small and medium size. Postero-internal cusp scarcely at all developed 
in the premolars, even in pm. 4. Incisors with only one root. 
