File:The horse and its relatives (1912) (14747999036).jpg

Identifier: horseitsrelative00lydeuoft (find matches)
Title: The horse and its relatives
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915
Subjects: Donkeys Equidae Horses Zebras
Publisher: New York : MacMillan
Contributing Library: Gerstein - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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om the Pleistocene gravels of theNarbada Valley, in Central India, have beenobtained skulls and other remains of a horse (E.namadicns) characterised by the elongation of thegrinding surface of the anterior pillars on the innerside of the upper cheek-teeth ; the same speciesalso occurring in the topmost beds of the Siwaliksof Northern India. In North America the Pleistocene and UpperPliocene formations have yielded remains of atleast nine extinct members of the modern genus;one of these, E. fi-aternus, closely resembling E.caballus, while a second, E. giganteus, from South-western Texas, appears to have been the largest ofthe whole group ; the cheek-teeth exceeding thoseof the biggest cart-horses by more than one-thirdthe diameter of the latter. In the Upper Pliocene deposits of the ValdArno and other parts of Europe, including theso-called Forest Bed of the coast of Norfolk, occursa horse i^E. stenonis) with molars of a somewhatmore primitive type than those of the existing PLATE XXII
Text Appearing After Image:
Bones of fore-feet of extinct forerunners of the Horse. A, Hyracothei-him, orEohipptis; S>, Mesohippus; Q, Merychipfiis ox Protohippus ; D, Hipparion. THE FORERUNNERS OF THE HORSE 247 members of the genus ; the primitive feature beingthe shortness of the antero-internal pillar of thoseof the upper jaw. There is also a slight depressionin the wall of the skull immediately in advanceof the socket of the eye. Nearly allied to Stenoshorse is Equus sivalensis, of the Pliocene depositsof the Indian Siwaliks, which, as already mentioned,exhibits both the aforesaid features. So far as canbe determined, this Siwalik horse seems to havestood about 15 hands at the shoulder, and to havehad a relatively big head, and slender cannon-bones,with proportionately large splints. After mentioning that in respect of their uppermolars Equtis stenonis and E. sivalensis occupy anintermediate position between the modern membersof the genus and the extinct Pliocene Protohippus,Prof. Marcellin Boule^ proceed

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