Dr. A. Hrdlička has recently concluded a series of exhaustive studies of the bones of early Man in both North and South America and of the localities where these bones were found. For both continents he has reached a negative result. As to North America he says: “Thus far on this continent no human bones of undisputed geologic antiquity are known.”[17] For South America the result is the same. “A conscientious, unbiased study of all the available facts has shown that the whole structure erected in support of the theory of geologically ancient man on that continent rests on very imperfect and incorrectly interpreted data and in many instances on false premises, and as a consequence of these weaknesses must completely collapse when subjected to searching criticism.” “The conclusions of the writers with regard to the evidence thus far furnished are that it fails to establish the claim that in South America there have been brought forth thus far tangible traces of either geologically ancient man himself or any precursor of the human race.
“This should not be taken as a categorical denial of the existence of early man in South America, however improbable such a presence may now appear.”[18]
On the other hand, the coexistence in North America of Man with several extinct species of mammals has been made extremely probable, if not certain. One of the most striking and best authenticated cases of this was the discovery by Professor Williston in western Kansas of a flint arrowhead beneath and in contact with the skeleton of the extinct Bison †occidentalis. Professor Russell found in lake deposits of Nevada an obsidian spear-head in association with the bones of an elephant or †mastodon, and other such instances have been reported. In these cases the doubt is as to the geological antiquity of the “finds,” for the implements are of the type made by the pre-Columbian Indians.
In brief, there is no convincing evidence that either North or South America was ever inhabited in prehistoric times by races of men different from those first encountered by the European discoverers.
CHAPTER XVI
HISTORY OF THE EDENTATA
As here employed, excluding the so-called edentates of the Old World, the Edentata form a highly variegated, but natural, assemblage of related forms. The order is at present exclusively American and almost confined to the Neotropical region, an armadillo which extends into Texas being the sole exception. These animals are so peculiar and so isolated from other mammals, that it has been proposed to treat them as a separate subclass; and there is much to be said in favour of this procedure, though it would perhaps be premature, until more is learned concerning these most curious and exceptional animals. In the subjoined table only the more important and better known genera are included.
Series PILOSA. Hairy Edentates
Suborder TARDIGRADA. Tree-Sloths
I. Bradypodidæ.