Page:The Last link.djvu/35

Rh from these scanty remains a complete and satisfactory reconstruction of this remarkable Pliocene Primate.

The more important points are the following: The remains in question rested upon a conglomerate which lies upon a bed of marine marl and sand of Pliocene age. Together with the bones of Pithecanthropus were found those of Stegodon, Leptobos, Rhinoceros, Sus, Felis, Hyæna, Hippopotamus, Tapir, Elephas, and a gigantic Pangolin. It is remarkable that the first two of these genera are now extinct, and that neither hippopotamus nor hyæna exists any longer in the Oriental region. If we may judge from these fossil remains, the bones of Pithecanthropus are not younger than the oldest Pleistocene, and probably belong to the upper Pliocene. The teeth are like those of man. The femur, also, is very human, but shows some resemblances to that of the gibbons. Its size, however, indicates an animal which stood when erect not less than 5 feet 6 inches high. The