The 3fammalia. By Oscar Schmidt. " The International Scientific Series."
(Megan Paul, Trench, and Co.)—The spread of paheon. tology has been so vast during the last quarter of a century, that had the great Cuvier, as Professor Schmidt soya, been alive, he would have considerably modified some of his views. Professor Schmidt endeavours to show in this treatise, amongst other things, the con- nection which many of the living mammals have with their supposed fossil ancestors. The probable descent of the horse—e.g., from " Anchitherium "—possessee en extraordinary interest ; that the home has had three toes, and has bat the outside ones, there can be no doubt the shape of the foot, and even the disadvantage which a single-toed animal is at on marshy land, show the descent and gradual acclimatisa- tion to a hardersoil. That the hippopotamus is one of the most ancient, if not the most ancient animal living, does not surprise us in view of the remains which have been brought to light ; and it would seem that the common idea that " the more uncouth, the more ancient," is not very far out. The varieties of texts from which so many oases of convergence acquire a wonderful interest, aro illustrated by good woodcuts. We recognise Professor Owen's well-known drawing illustrating the derivation of the hone from its three-hoofed ancestors ; the feet of the American fossil horses is also a striking series. Professor Schmidt shows us how true are the words of Goethe, which he quotes,—" The animal is formed by circumstances for circumstances." The Mamma/ice should become a useful book in every naturalist's library, besides enhancing the value of the series to which it belongs.
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