The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-03-12

horse family characterized this fauna
Que of the horses was about the size OF
the common domestic animal, while an
other allied form, about the size of New,
feundland dog, was provided with three
hoofs to each foot, though the lateral
hoofs were rudimental. Or. Leidy has al
ready Identified twenty seven species Of
the horse family which are thus known
to have lived on this continent prior to
the advent of man-about three times as
many as are now found living throughout
the world. Among the carnivores there
we're several species of foxes aud wolves,
five varieties of the family, and three
species of hyena. Some of tho skulls Of
the tiger like animals exhibited the marks
Of terrible conflicts with the hyenas
Among the rodents were a porcupine,
small beaver, rabbit, mouse, eto.
The pachyderms, or thick skinned AMI
mails, were very numerous, aud arc of the
greatest interest, from the fact that none
of them are living on the continent atthe
present time. Five species of rhinoceros
are found a mastodon, an elephant aud
numerous forms allied to the domestic
hog, varying iu size from that of the
African hippopotamus down to that Of
the domestic cat. From the discovery OF
this group of extinct animals we may
draw the inference that Nebraska and
Dakota were the homes of race closely
allied to those inhabiting Asia and Africa
at the present time. From their charae
teristies we are led to believe that the eli
mate during that period was considerably
warmer than it is now. The inference is
also drawn that America, instead of bein 9
as it is usually called, the New World," Z"
is really older than the eastern hemis
phere.
The discoveries in Kansas and Wyom
ing are still more wonderful. During the
past suamer Professor Cope has occupied
considerable time under the auspices OF
the survey in exploring another of these
wonderful graveyards el long past period,
from which he has taken the osseous re
mains of more than 100 species, more
nearly resembling those of White and
Nlobrara rivers, but most of them speci
hcally distinct. At least 20 species are
new 10 science, ranging from the size of
the mole nearly to that Of the elephant,
l6 species only are reptiles.
Many forms of the insectivorous ami
mails related to the mole, and Of very
small size, have been procured The de
licaey and minuteness Of these fossils is
surpisiog, Guawing animals, or rod
ents, left numerous remains of eighteen
species, some not larger that the domestic
mouse. Some were the predecessors Of
the rabbits, others of squirrels, and others
OF mice. Of cloVen footed quadrupeds a
great many species have been found
Some were nearly intermediate between
the deer and the hog in structure. like
the latter they had ne horns. They were
about as large as sheep. Others were
about the size of gray squirrels, being the
smallest of this class of animals ever dis
covered. Several species of horses were
living during the same period their
bones and teeth are found in abundance
The rhi1oceros abounded In Colorado in
tormer days, no less than seven species
having been procured by Professor Cope.
One OF the specimens is perfect skull
with teeth complete, and covered with
the moss like crystalization seen in the
moss agate. But the most remarkable
monsters of the pass, whose existence has
been disclosed by the present survey, are
a series OF horned species related to the
rhinoceros, but possessing some features
10 which, according to Professor Cope.
they resemble the elephant. They stood
high on the legs and short feet, his pos
sessed osseous horns in pairs on different
parts OF tho head One Of the largest
species had huge horn over each eye,
while another had one on each side of the
nose and mora than foot in length, re
sembliug, on the back part of the head,
the OK, etc. A third one, Of larger size
than the last, had rudimental horns on
the nose. Still another was about as
large as the elephant Its cheek bones
were enormously expanded, and its horns
we're fiat. A fifth species had triangler
horns turned outward. Carniverous
species were not rare 10 this ancient world,
and served then as now to check the too
rapid increase. OF the fourteen species
of earuivsres known, there were tiger
cats and dogs as large as the black bear,
but probably much more carniyerous In
their propensities, while some OF the cats
had remarkable canine or eye teeth. In
a new species, the size Of panther, these
teeth greatly resembled those Of shark.
There were also many reptiles, such as
turtles, lizards, snakes, etc.