INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 
XV. 
miocene : if, as Prof. Duncan 1 thinks probable the Eppelsheim beds are at the base 
of the pliocene , 2 then the Sansan and Simorre beds must be transferred to the upper 
miocene. 
Fossil Persian mammals. — It is well to record that from Maragha, in western 
Persia (nearly due south of Tabriz) fossil remains of mammals have been recently 
obtained, and named as follows , 3 Helladotherium. sp. (metacarpal); Rhinoceros , sp. (not 
ticliorhinus ) ; Mastodon (?) sp. ; Tragoceros , sp. (tibia) ; and Hippotherium , sp. : also 
Rhinoceros tichorlvinus , Elephas priniigenius, Bos bison, Cervus elaplius , Equus caballus , 
and E. onager. It is inferred that these remains probably indicate the presence of 
the Pikenni beds, together with pleistocene strata. They may possibly also indicate 
a western extension of the Siwaliks, the fauna of which has a more marked European 
facies in eastern Baluchistan ; and hence render it not improbable that the Siwalik 
and Pikermi faunas may be eventually brought into actual connection. The 
occurence of pleistocene forms in the same region as Pikermi genera is paralleled by 
the association of Siwalik and Narbada strata in Japan. 
1 ‘ Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.,’ vol. XXXVI., p. 206. 
2 If this view be eventually maintained the lower Siwaliks would unquestionably be of pliocene age. 
3 C. Grewingk, “ tjber fossile Saugethiere von Maragha in Persia,” ‘ Verh. k. k. geol. Keichs.,’ 1881, p. 296. 
