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Show 460 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [June 6, In absolute size the longest I have met with is that of a Lion, 174"*5. The smallest is that of Helogale, the skeleton of which I have not met with. The Cervical Vertebra. The greatest absolute length of the cervical vertebrae which I met witli was in the skeleton of a Tiger, where they measured 26"*0 ; but in Crocuta they attained 241. The greatest proportion borne by the cervical region to the axial column from the atlas to the postaxial end of the sacrum-the latter being taken as 100-was 32*9 (Proteles). The next longest were 28*3 (Hemigalea), 27*9 (Hyana), 27*4 (Viverricula), and 26*5 (Genetta and Cynogale). The smallest proportions were 19 (Hemigalidia) and 18*8 (Arctictis). In the Felida I found it to vary from 19*3 to 22*6. The atlas in the Felida is provided with large transverse processes, each of which projects outwards almost, if not quite, as much towards its preaxial as towards its postaxial end ; and the transverse processes project postaxiad but little beyond the postaxial margin of the central part of the atlas. In the Hyanida, on the other hand, the two transverse processes project considerably more backwards, while the postaxial end of each projects outwards equally beyond its preaxial end ; so that the atlas has the appearance of being furnished with two obtusely pointed wings extending much outwards and considerably backwards. In the Viverrida various intermediate conditions occur, Genetta approaching the Cats most nearly, and Suricata having the transverse processes the most diverging, and Viverra the most postaxially projecting. Sometimes a small pointed spine projects postaxiad from the middle of the postaxial margin of tbe body, as in the Galidictina and Herpestes. In a young Hyana, in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (no. 4474 c), the body of the atlas remains distinct. The axis varies as to the shape of its spinous process, the degree of development of its ventral ridges, and the development of its hyperapophyses. The spinous process may have its dorsal margin nearly straight, as in the Cat, or strongly convex, as in Viverra. Its anterior margin may be strongly pointed, as in the Civets, or its hinder end, as in the Cat. The hinder part of the spinous process may be much produced upwards, as in Suricata, or may bifurcate, as in the Hycenidce. The ventral, antero-posterior ridges of the axis are greatly developed in the Galidictina, Herpestes, and Viverra. They are but little marked in the Hycenida and Suricata, and still less in the Cat. The hyperapophyses * are very marked in Suricata and the Hyanida, where we have the pointed ends of the postaxial bifurcation of the spinous process, beneath these the hyperapophyses, and beneath these again the postzygapophyses. The remaining cervical vertebra' attain an exceptional size and strength, as well as length, in the Hyanida, and are generally more J For these processes see P. Z. S. 1865, p. 576. |