A History of Agriculture in India v1.c11.12

v1.c11.12

The Fauna. The fauna provides a glimpse of the geographical conditions that generally prevailed during the Siwalik Period in the riverain tracts along the foot of the rising Himalayas. The dinotheres and primitive trilophodonts were water-loving animals, characteristic of warm and humid lowlands, because their teeth were adapted to eating only succulent herbage. The occurrence of the aquatic tragulids and hippopotamuses suggests the presence of rivers. A savannah or swamp-type environment is indicated by *Hipparion*, whose broad hooves were exceptionally adapted to it, whereas *Equus* was better adapted to harder ground and harsher herbage. The presence of antelopes indicates prairies, steppes, or deserts, whereas goats and oxen, with "cloven hooves" were suited for moving on the soft forest soils. The majority of the pigs and Canidae were forest-dwellers, though a few from the Chinji to the Dhok Pathan show striking adaptation to the growing arid conditions. *Giraffokeryx* had a preference for the forest, and the giraffe, with its characteristic feet and teeth structure, preferred the open grassland with scattered trees. In the words of Edwin Pascoe, "In general, therefore, we may visualize, during most of the period, belts of luxuriant forest and open grass plains, with a great river winding through one or the other."