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Show 1889.] ON A NEW SPECIES OF HYRACODONTOTHERIUM. 67 .2. On an apparently new Species of Hyracodontotherium1. By R. LYDEKKER, B.A., F.Z.S., F.G.S., &c. [Eeceived January 26, 1889.] In 1877 Dr. H. Filhol2 described and figured the left half of palate of a comparatively small Ungulate under the name of Hyracodontotherium3 primeevum, the specimen having been obtained from the Upper Eocene (Lower Oligocene) Phosphorites of Central France. This specimen showed the typical Eutherian dental formula, the last two incisors and the third and fourth premolars being, however, represented only by their alveoli. The chief features connected with the dentition are, firstly, that the incisors are placed nearly in the same antero-posterior line, after the fashion of those of a Pig, and that the first incisor is a comparatively large tooth, much curved, and with a convex anterior and a flattened posterior surface. This tooth presents, indeed, a decided resemblance to that of Hyrax. There is no diastema behind the third incisor, and the canine is a small trenchant tooth, not unlike the last incisor. The anterior premolars have elongated, subtrenchant crowns, while the alveolus of the fourth premolar indicates the crown of that tooth to have been triangular and of simpler structure than the true molars. The latter are of a lophodont type, recalling those of the Perissodactylate genus Chalicotherium. In his description Dr. Filhol made no attempt to determine the serial position of this peculiar genus, merely remarking that it appeared to show certain resemblances to Anoplotherium and Hyrax. In 1886 Dr. M. Schlosser4 stated that Hyracodontotherium was evidently closely allied to the N.-American .Eocene genus Menisco-therium, and inclined to the opinion that both were allied to Chalicotherium, although the entepicondylar foramen in the humerus of the American genus indicated affinity with the typical Condylarthra of Prof. Cope. By the latter writer5 Meniscotherium is indeed made the type of a family of Condylarthra characterized by its specialized lophodont dentition. So far as I am aware the above constitutes the literature of Hyracodontotherium. HYRACODONTOTHERIUM FILHOLI, n. sp. During last year the Natural History Museum acquired by purchase the specimen represented in the accompanying figure (p. 68), which was obtained from the Phosphorites of Bach, near Lalbenque, Lot, and evidently belongs to Hyracodontotherium. The specimen comprises a considerable part of the left half of the palato-facial region 1 The name was published as Hyracodontherium, which should clearly be amended as above. 2 Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. viii. art. 1, p. 153, pi. xiii. figs. 283, 284. 3 The plate is erroneously lettered Hyracodon. 4 Morphol. Jahrb. vol. xii. p. 21. 5 Eep. U.S. Geol. Surv. Terr. vol. iv. p. 493 (1884). 5* |
