East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-15

At any rate remarkable deposits of
their bones have been found in Grant
and Wheeler counties. Oregon, COM
monty called. in this section, the John
Day country.
1t is thought that these ungulate,
or hoofed aborigines PROBABLY inhab-
tied much of the Pacific slope and
far northwestern section.
Their bones originally may have
rested in regions far apart, but were
collected and deposited in that sec
ton, now part of eastern Oregon, by
the action of some early stream or by
glacial processes.
Several specimens of the gigantic
dinosaur. a kind of monster lizard of
antiquity, have been unearthed in
Wyoming.
There is no reason to suppose that
the dinosaur family dwelt in that
section exclusively, yet for some rea-
son their bones were deposited there.
Readily recognized were the fos-
sils of the field mice tribe of four
million years ago. In every respect,
the scientists declare, the tiny ami
mails of that time were just like those
of today.
Scampering about In field and for
est-if there were fields and forests
then-nibbling at small grain and
roots, their habits and characters
/ tics then were those of their descend
ants today.
Perhaps they were so insignificant
! In size compared with the gigantic
fauna of those days, that they es-
capped notice.
Even the hawks. owls and other
enemies of present-day field mice
were probably above noticing such
diminutive creatures.
Like n Deer. a Rat and n Camel.
Considerably larger but still small
for that period OF gigantic animal
life, was the entoptychus. bones of
which were unearthed in Wheeler
county.
If reconstructed this animal would
be very much like a prairie dog, or
marmot, but not quite so large.
1t was. however. of an entirely diff
ferent species. Probably n burrow-
ing animal. and feeding upon vegeta-
Nles. it doubtless lived much after the
manner of the prairie dog.
Another type of the fauna of that
long-gone tyne. which the explora.
tions in the John Day region brought
to light. was the hvpertragulus
which is thouoht to have resembled
the African water chevrotain.
This was a kind of hornless ga.
zelle. about 1S inches high at the
shoulder. and a dainty little thing.
Having some of the traits of the
rodent tribe it was the smallest OF
the deer family. Onlv the lees am
feet were those of the deer. the head
Neing like a rat AMI the body par.
taking of much Of the rat character,
istic. while thare were other charac.
teristios resemN'ing the camel.
Making its home in marshes ant
along the banks Of st~eT~ns the ny
pertra o,i'us was possessed of many o.
the habits of the or1narv nig.
Unknown, heretof0re has heen tn
allomervv nlanicens remains n
which have hnen found only IN thu
John Dav raoiOn. These homes wer,
dug up IN the shores of Turtle Cove
Grant coun'v.
, An Entirely New S-ecins.
This er''-o'v now sre~ios finds r.
closest affinity IN the little deer jus
, mentioned. hut was somewhat larger
+ Its habits we~o also supposed to hav
, been those of rodent.
ONLY an imperfect skull of this an
, imal has heen found and vet fro0
a this limited base science has bee
. able to ascertain something o1 tn
9 size. s.rr"'u-o on1 living characters
' tice Of the herta.
| One Of the most Interesting dis
e coveries was the elotherium calkins
t a species Of Log t, at was as large a
= a COW.
G This prehistoric swine had n sku
s two feet lono When II Is consldere
that the ordinary wild boar possesse
: 4 skull measurement NJ only 20 in
ohes. the size NJ the elotherium specI
, men can he i~nagined.
Il Nearly seven fec. long and 40 In
i ohes tall was the ono that left II
;. homes IN the Grant c-un.y rocks 10
| me PllIl''''''''l DI man upb
centuries later.
This was mo Of the species Of ur
g gulata. or hoofed animals. NJ the IA
4 vest It's honos have also teen foun
@ IN NeNra7'a Wyoming Colorado an
e" the Dakotas.
Indications are that the elotheriur
preferred 4 marsNy habitation. 9
relics Of TIE sne"ies have also bee
found on the borders of lakes an
: rivers.
. II Is sunnoscG to have made vegt
: 'ation ite foo1 and to have eschewe
. fish Of anv kind.
: Like rhlnoceros In Its habits,
. n-obably spent much of Its time
. mo water. and could swim ike
: tapir.
. AWAY hack IN the dawn ut specia
. ized life the ho~se was no larger tina
. a cat and had -four toes
= Is the centuries and cons passe
: the anina' i1"rcaseA IN size an
. gra Huallv e"oI its surerfluous toes
. Three million years or - ago