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Show 466 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [June 6, The greatest total lengths of the palate bear proportions to the spine (atlas to sacrum as 100) of 17*9 (Herpestes) and 17*5 (Crossarchus). Its least proportion is 9*6 (Felis), the largest proportion I have found in Felis being 14*7. The shortest Viverrine palates, thus estimated, are 10*9 (Viverricula) and 11*5 (Viverra, Galidia, and Cryptoprocta). Compared with the cranial length at 100, the greatest proportions the palate attains are 62*8 (Bdeogale) and 61*6 (Herpestes); its least is 43*4 (Felis). Compared with the base at 100, its greatest relative lengths are 2909 (Suricata), 272*7 (Felis), and 268*2 (Arctogale) ; its smallest proportions in length are 153*8 (Felis) and 150-0 (Galidia). The greatest breadths of tbe palate, compared with the spine at 100, are 12*8 (Crocuta), 11*4 (Felis), and 10*0 (Suricata). Its least relative dimensions are 3*9 (Eupleres), 5*4 (Cynogale), and 5*9 (Viverra civetta). Its smallest proportion in Felis is 7*8. The greatest proportional breadths of the palate, compared with the total cranial length at 100, are 49*3 (Crocuta), 46*9 (Felis), and 36*8 (Suricata) ; its least proportions are 22*7 (Arctogale) and 16*8 (Eupleres). The greatest proportions of its breadth compared with the base at 100 are 213*4 (Crocuta) and 200*0 (Felis) ; its smallest is 1000 (Hemigalidia, Arctictis, and Poiana). The projection of the palate backwards behind the upper molars compared with the total cranial length at 100 is greatest in Proteles (20*8), Arctictis (18*7), and Suricata (16*9). I have found its maximum in the Cats to be 11*9, and its minimum 4*6. In Genetta it is 5*0. It is least in Hyana brunnea (4*5) and Nandinia (2*6). The interorbital breadth may be in a proportion as large as 7*3 (Hemigalidia), and as small as 2*5 (Genetta), compared with the spine at 100. Compared with the total cranial length at 100, it ranges from 27*5 (Galidia) down to 8*7 (Genetta). The postorbital breadth similarly ranges from 10*0 (Felis) to 3*0 (Viverra), and from 450 (Felis) to 12*2 (Cynogale) respectively. The orbits are rarely enclosed by bone, as sometimes in Felis, Herpestes, Cynictis, Suricata, and almost in Rhinogale. The postorbital processes, on the other hand, may be almost or quite obsolete, as in Cynogale and Arctictis. Except in Proteles and the above mentioned Viverrine genera, in which the orbits may be enclosed by bone, the postorbital processes of the frontal are never so long in the Viverrida as they generally are in the Felida. The face is generally shorter as compared with the cranium in the Felida than in the Viverrida. The auditory bulla is always an ossified convex prominence except in Nandinia, where it is cartilaginous. It may be quite smooth and unconstricted, showing no external sign of internal division, as in the Felida. There may be no internal septum, as in Crocuta. There may nevertheless be an almost complete internal septum dividing each bulla into two chambers, with only a minute opening on the septum, as also in the Felida and Viverrina. The septum |
