OLIGOCENE PERIOD 
Yet these new beasts can boast but little size, 
For seem they most as deerlets in disguise 300 
As lamas. But prosperous is the race 
Though low down on the ladder be its place. 
Carnivores here wend their butcher ways 
Like to Europa's forms of Eocene days : 
Civets with teeth of dogs ; and forms like Bears, 305 
Though sloping skull, shaped as the Dog's, be theirs. 
Big cats well armed with canine teeth abound, 
And bring with furtive spring their prey to ground : 
And Dog-like brutes are hunting far around. 
Beavers, that now for first time come in view, 310 
About the streams their busy ways pursue : 
Here too some bulky forms may be descried 
That seem to Hippopotami allied. 
Some Sheep-sized forms on land, though light of foot, 
And graceful framed, are weaponed well to boot. 315 
Though Deer-like beasts, they are related wide, 
Being alike with Chevrotains allied, 
And with Giraffes. Great is their horny pride. 
Defenceless though the does, of horns no less 
Than six a-piece the gallant bucks possess. 320 
Between their ears two spike-like horns stand forth, 
About the cheeks are knobs of horny growth, 
And other horns just leave their nostrils free, 
Whilst tusks below complete their armoury. 
'S3 
