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Show 144 PROF* ST.-GEORGE M I V A R T O N T H E A L U R O I D E A . [Feb. /, The distinctive characters of the Felida are :- (1) There is a short pollex with a claw not, or hardly, reaching to distal end of metacarpal of index. (2) The hallux is only represented by a rudimentary metatarsa bone. (3) The ungual phalanges are greatly arched, with a wide lamina to shelter the base of the claw. (4) The claws are greatly arched, sharply pointed, and, except in Cynalurus, completely retractile. (5) The auditory bulla is much inflated, smooth, and rounded, but hardly shows any external sign of division into two chambers. (6) The bulla is more prominent towards its inner than towards its hinder border. (7) There is an almost complete bony septum between the two chambers of the bulla, which are one behind the other. (8) The bony meatus auditorius is short and neither produced anteriorly nor inferiorly; neither is it imperfectly ossified below. (9) There is no carotid foramen anywhere visible on the surface of the basis cranii. (10) There is no alisphenoid canal. (11) The palatine foramina are situated in the hinder half of the palate. (12) -*- and p-2 are not developed l. (13) There is no lower tubercular molar, no jj-2, and no --. (14) -- is always very small and transversely extended. (15) The antero-external cusp of - is fairly developed, but is much smaller than the two others. (16) JJ^ has hardly any talon. (17) The outer incisors but little exceed the middle ones in size. (18) Humerus with a supracondyloid foramen. (19) Bone of penis small. (20) The ears not very long, erect aud pointed. (21) Tarsus and metatarsus hairy. (22) One small plantar pad, and one beneath each digit. (23) The anus docs not open into a saccular depression. (24) Two anal glands only. (25) N o prescrotal glands. (26) Always a more or less small caecum. (27) Many very hard, homy, sharp-pointed, conical papillae on the dorsum of the tongue. (28) Hippocampal gyrus not- completely separated from the antero-i The mandible of a Tiger with p-^ killed in British Burmah, is described and figured by B. A. Lydekker in the Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol.xlvii (1878). p. 2, plate ii. v ' 2 So far as I have had an opportunity of examining. |