The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-05-10

hccn, owing 10 the TACT that the FOSSIL
il the skeleton Of an animal which is
regarded as tho parent types OF all
animals Of to-day which are dist
Puishcd by having hoofs. Its scien-
tlic name IS Phcnacodus-primmyus.
The fossil was discovered several years
ago in the Wind River valley in
Wyoming Territory, aud was after
ward secured by Prof Cope, who
learned Of the circumstance.
The preservation Of the animal Is
remarkable. IL had apparently lain
down 10 die in the clay, and the body
remaining undisturbcd, the bones were
not scattered. In appearance the
skclctOn is not formidable. The ami
NAL, which is believed TO have been
full grown, was not, whom alive, much
, larger than sheep or II ycarling calf.
What first strikes the observer is its
remarkable preservation. The small.
est bone appears TO be preserved. APP
parcntly the animal sank down in the
clay exhausted and went into its last
sleep. The carcass was not disturbed,
the bones were never scattered and
the skeleton was gradually, in the
course Of thousands Of years, trans
formed with the surrounding earth in
10 stone. The skull has some rcscm-
blanco to that of II horse, but is more
of the general type Of the rhinoccros
There are no tusks, but slight pro-
tubcranccs which indicate an APP
proach to them. The teeth have
much the same character rs those OF
modern animals. Each OF the four
feet have five long and slender toes,
which have the general appearance OF
human fingers, except that each OF the
toes is capped with n small, perfectly
shaped hoof, which is ii copy in mini
aturc Of II horses hoof.
The animal, Prof. Whitfield says,
fed ON plants and flesh, rs il was best
able to procure the one or the other.
The cartilaginous portion Of the skull
at the mouth is wanting, but the gem
cral structure is similar to that Of the
rhinoccros, which has the long, point
ed lip like the beginning Of u trunk
for the purpose Of better gathering in
the grass or foliage, while the teeth in
their structure are adapted in some
measure to the food of CarnivOrOus an
imals. If the larger animals Of to-day
had not then made their appearance,
the PhonacOdus must have been i'm the
habit of making his special meals on
snakes, frogs and the like. From the
appearance Of the feet, he was n fiat
footed animal, but the toes also rested
on the ground and aided him in climb
ing steep inrlincs,
Prof. Cope, as we'll rs the European
paloontologists regard this skeleton
as one of the most remarkable discOv-
crics OF recent years. a more adj
vanccd form of this animal was OBJ
tanned some years ago in France, and
was the subject Of much speculation by
Cuvicr, the naturalist. 1t was termed
the Palcothcrium, aud was regarded
rs the ancestral form OF the horse.
Several other specimens have since
boon discovered in good condition,
showing that the animal reached the
size of deer, but its toes were re-
duccd to three or four. Prof Cope. rs
tho results of his studies ON the early
character of animals, indicated in a
paper which he published in 1881, that
the older form Of these animals. il ever
found, would possess th)sc distinctive
traits which are Indicated in this spcci-
men Of the Phcnucodus, which
he has since obtained. The
stratum in which the fossil was
found belongs to the caWy Eoccne, or
the Lower Tertiary period, in the
first Of which the remains Of mann
mails have been obtained. The time
of their existence is calculated by
gcologists rs anywhere between iOO,-
600 and 100000 years ago. SO small a
matter rs 100000 years either way
making little difference.
The Phcnacodus DIR. Cope regards
rs the distinct ancestor OF the higher
forms of animals. In succeeding ages
the larger animals, like the elephant
and giraffe. were developed from il,
and tho different surroundings and
conditions led to the growth Of planti-
grade animals like tho bear, the
carnivora like the leopard, and the
lion and hoofcd animals like the horse
and deer, all of these branches de.
voloping somo of the minor traits
which were possessed by the original
type. When the new building Of the
Museum of Natural History is com
pletod. Prof. Whitfield expects 10 So
cure for his department u complete
collection of fossils showing the de
velopment of these branches OF ami
NAL life SO far rs science has get beer
able 90 indicate them. Cor. Ciucin
natl Commercial.
Airs. frontpcw think IL Is shock
ing-the interest our minister Is takin.
in baseball. Why, saw him on
playing yesterday afternoon with a 10
Of boys from the college.
"Oh. / don't know that there is an,
thing wrong about Sase-balLm
Mrs. FL don't say that it's rcall,
immoral, but by and by hell get
curve pitch, as they call II. and eithe
leave the pulpit or want sl0, 900 a year