statement aroused
research in every direction, and the number of fossil Mammalia found
within the next few years, and proved by comparison to be different from
any living species, soon demonstrated the truth of his conclusion.

[Illustration]

Shortly after the discovery of fossil elephants had opened this new path
of investigation, some curious bones were found by some workmen in the
quarries of Montmartre, near Paris, and brought to Cuvier for
examination. Although few in number, and affording but very scanty
_data_ for such a decision, he at once pronounced them to be the remains
of some extinct animal preceding the present geological age. Here, then,
at his very door, as it were, was a settlement of that old creation in
which he could pursue the inquiry, already become so important in its
bearings. It was not long before other bones of the same kind were
found, though nothing as yet approaching an entire skeleton. However,
with such means as he had, Cuvier began a comparison with all the living
Mammalia,--with the human skeleton first, with Monkeys, with the larger
Carnivora and Ruminants, then with all the smaller Mammalia, then with
the Pachyderms; and here, for the first time, he began to find some
resemblance. He satisfied himself that the animal must have belonged to
the family of Pachyderms; and he then proceeded to analyze and compare
all the living species, till he had collected ample evidence to show
that the bones in question did not correspond with any species, and
could not even be referred to any genus, now in existence. At length
there was discovered at Montmartre an upper jaw of the same
animal,--next a lower jaw, matching the upper one, and presently a whole
head with a few backbones was brought to light. These were enough, with
Cuvier's vast knowledge of animal structure, to give him a key to the
whole skeleton. At about the same time, in the same locality, were found
other bones and teeth also, differing from those first discovered, and
yet equally unlike those of any living animal. The first evidently
belonged to some stout and heavy animal, the others were more slender
and of lighter build. From these fragments, ample evidence to him of his
results, he drew the outlines of two animals: one which he called the
Palaeotherium, (old animal,) a figure of which is given in the above
wood-cut, and the other Anoplotherium, (animal without fangs). He
presented these figures with an explanatory memoir at