SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev | Current Page 467 | Next

Nicholson, Henry Alleyne, 1844-1899

"æontological Science"

Thus, we find aquatic Carnivores
belonging to both the living groups of the Seals and Walruses;
true Bears are wanting, but their place is filled by the
closely-allied genus _Amphicyon_, of which various species are
known; Weasels and Otters were not unknown, and the _Hyoenictis_
and _Iditherium_ of the Upper Miocene of Greece are apparently
intermediate between the Civet-cats and the Hyaenas; whilst the great
Cats of subsequent periods are more than adequately represented by
the huge "Sabre-toothed Tiger" (_Machairodus_), with its immense
trenchant and serrated canine teeth.
Amongst the _Rodent_ Mammals, the Miocene rocks have yielded
remains of Rabbits, Porcupines (such as the _Hystrix primigenius_
of Greece), Beavers, Mice, Jerboas, Squirrels, and Marmots. All the
principal living groups of this order were therefore differentiated
in Middle Tertiary times.
The _Cheiroptera_ are represented by small insect-eating Bats;
and the order of the Insectivorous Mammals is represented by
Moles, Shrew-mice, and Hedgehogs.
[Illustration: Fig. 248.--Lower jaw of _Pliopithcus antiquus_.
Upper Miocene, France.]
Lastly, the Monkeys (_Quadrumana_) appear to have existed during
the Miocene period under a variety of forms, remains of these
animals having been found both in Europe and in India; but no member
of this order has as yet been detected in the Miocene Tertiary of
the North American continent.


Pages:
455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479