The following is a list of the new species already obtained:—
| Upper Eocene. | Middle Eocene. |
|---|---|
| Mammalia | |
| Arsinoitherium Zitteli, Beadnell. | Barytherium grave, Andr. |
| „ Andrewsii, Lankester. | Mœritherium Lyonsi., Andr. |
| Palæomastodon Beadnelli, Andrews. | „ gracile, „ |
| „ minor, „ | „ sp., „ |
| Mœritherium Lyonsi, „ | Eosiren libyca, „ |
| „ trigodon, „ | Zeuglodon Osiris, Dames. |
| Megalohyrax eocænus, „ | „ Zitteli, v. Stromer. |
| „ minor, „ | „ Isis, Beadn. (M.S.). |
| Saghatherium antiquum, Andr. andBeadn. | |
| „ minus, „ „ | |
| „ magnum, Andr. | |
| Ancodus Gorringei, Andr. and Beadn. | |
| Geniohyus mirus, Andr. | |
| „ fayumensis, Andr. | |
| „ major, „ | |
| Phiomia serridens, Andr. and Beadn. | |
| Pterodon africanus, Andr. | |
| „ macrognathus, Andr. and anothermuch smaller and imperfectly known creodont. | |
| Birds. | |
| Eremopezus libycus, Andr. | |
| Reptiles. | |
| Testudo Ammon, Andr. | Gigantophis Garstini, Andr. |
| Pelomedusa progaleata, v. Reinach. | Pterosphenus (Mœriophis) Schweinfurthi,Andr. |
| Podocnemis fayumensis, Andr. | Psephophorus eocænus, Andr. |
| „ Blanckenhorni, v.Reinach. | Thalassochelys libyca, Andr. |
| „ „ var. ovata, v. Reinach. | Podocnemis antiqua, „ |
| Stereogenys libyca. Andr. | „ Stromeri, v. Reinach. |
| Tomistoma sp. | „ „ var. major, v. Reinach. |
| Crocodilus sp. | Stereogenys Cromeri, Andr. |
| „ podocnemioides, v.Reinach. | |
| Tomistoma africanum, Andr. | |
| Fish. | |
| Occasional fragments of siluroids andrays. | Propristis Schweinfurthi, Dames. |
H.—The absence of Miocene deposits in the Fayûm.
No traces of deposits of this age having been met so far south as the Fayûm we may presume that in Miocene times the area had become land, the sea margin having receded northwards. The slight depression of Mogara, some 100 kilometres further north-west, is however cut out in Lower Miocene beds, lithologically somewhat similar to the Upper Eocene and Oligocene deposits of the Fayûm. Probably similar conditions obtained throughout, and the existence of vertebrate remains indicates the persistence of river-currents from the south. The fauna of the Mogara beds has only as yet been very incompletely examined, the locality being rather inaccessible.[85]
Section XII.—PLIOCENE.
We have presumed that in Miocene times the Fayûm remained land, no traces of deposits of that age having been recorded; possibly the area underwent considerable denudation during the Miocene and early Pliocene periods, but of this it is difficult to adduce definite evidence. The records of Pliocene times in the Fayûm may be classed as follows:—
| (J). Marine deposits of Middle Plioceneage. | ||
| (K). Borings on rock surfaces, exact agedoubtful. | ||
| (L). Gravel Terraces, probably latePliocene. | ⎱ ⎰ | (or early Pleistocene). |
| (M). Gypseous Deposits, probably latestPliocene. |
J.—Marine Deposits: Middle Pliocene.
In Middle Pliocene times the area, which had probably undergone considerable denudation, was again invaded by the sea, and we find at Sidmant el Jebel, on the south-east side, definite evidence of deposits of this age in the shape of sands containing such well known forms as Ostrea cucullata and Pecten benedictus.
The beds in question reach an altitude of from 60 to 70 metres and were first brought to notice by Schweinfurth. Although they are in reality on the Nile Valley side of the separating ridge or saddle, there is little doubt that the same beds will, when looked for, be found within the Fayûm depression in places where they have been preserved. As has already been mentioned this south-eastern side of the Fayûm yet remains to be examined and mapped in detail, and the determination of the relation of these marine sands to the gravel terraces shortly to be described is a matter of primary importance for the proper interpretation of their relative ages.