The nearly complete ilium, femur, tibia, and tarsus of P. major in our possession, enable us to make the following estimate of the elevation of the hind quarters.
| INCHES. | |
| Pelvis, height of ilium above acetabulum | 9 |
| Femur and tibia by actual measurement, allowing for bend at the knee | 26 |
| Tarsus, from astragalus, and cuboid | 3 |
| Metatarsus and phalanges (estimated from manus of P. paludosus) | 8 |
| 46 |
It is probable that the fore-shoulders were of the same height. From the atlas, axis, and from other cervicals, several dorso-lumbar vertebræ, and part of the sacrum, a rude estimate places the length of the animal at sixty-seven inches, or nearly six feet, including the head, and excluding the tail.
In general features it strongly resembled the tapir, with stout body, slender tail, and very short neck, compensated by a proboscis of considerable length. In comparing the heads of the ancient and modern representatives of this class of Perissodactyles, the points of contrast are the wide stout zygomas, the deep temporal fossæ, the protruding nasals, and the narrow gaps in the dental series of the older type.
There are also strong points of resemblance in the structure of the Palæosyops and Palæothere. Some of the cranial homologues have been detailed by Dr. Leidy. The femur of the Palæothere is shorter, the tibia longer; they are both much stouter. The tarsus of the Palæosyops is narrower, while the remainder of the Pes is very similar. The pelvis, and particularly the ilium and acetabulum of Palæosyops, is more palæotheroid than tapiroid. The similarity of the fore-shoulder in the two types is also striking. The neck of the Palæosyops was probably shorter.
In the descending series of Palæotheres terminating in the diminutive P. minus, and characteristic of the upper eocene of France, we have an interesting counterpart in the large family of Palæosyops, of equal diversity of size and characteristic of our lower eocene, and it is hoped that future discoveries will render a complete discussion of this interesting coincidence possible.
LIMNOHYUS, Leidy.
Proceedings Academy Natural Sciences, Phil., 1872, p. 242; Palæosyops; Marsh, American Journal Sci. and Arts, 1872, p. 122; Hayden's Survey, 1872, p. 592, Cope.
Generic characters.—Resembles Palæosyops in general features. Distinction founded on the possession of two conic tubercles, of the inner series, on the last superior molar instead of one.