OCR Text |
Show 1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 147 hinder than its anterior margin which projects most outwards. The carotid artery passes through a distinct canal between the bulla and basisphenoid, the hinder end of which appears as a conspicuous foramen situated a little in front of the middle of the inner border of the auditory bulla. The orbit is never enclosed by bone; nor is the mastoid at all prominent. The lower margin of the hinder part of the mandible is very concave. The angle of the mandible is long, slender, and backwardly projecting ; its coronoid process is not very high or backwardly projecting compared with that of Felis. There is a ^ and an ^-^. There is also a -"- and an ^-. ^-x is of large size. -:- has a well-developed internal tubercle. The tongue is devoid of horny papillae or of any patch of conspicuously enlarged papillae on the anterior part of its dorsum. There is a small conical caecum. There is a pair of anal glands. There is also a pair of medianly-adjoining scent-glands placed between the penis and testes, or in the analogous position in the female. Their secretion escapes by a number of minute orifices into a large sac, the external aperture of which appears as an antero-posteriorly extended slit simulating a large vaginal aperture. The genus Viverra differs from all the Felida in that (1) The ungual phalanges are less arched, and the bony lamina for sheltering the base of the claw is relatively less deep. (2) The claws are less arched and less perfectly retractile. (3) The auditory bulla, being ossified, shows external signs of its complete internal division into two chambers. (4) There is a conspicuous carotid foramen on the inner side of the bulla, which is most prominent posteriorly. (5) The palatine foramina are situated on the anterior half of the palate. (6) There is a p-g and also an ^-^. (7) M:'1 is largely developed. (8) jjj-3 has a distinct talon. (9) The ears are not very long, erect, pointed, or tufted. (10) There are no horny, sharp-pointed, conical papillae on the dorsum of the tongue. (11) The hippocampal gyrus is completely separated off from the lateral gyrus by the continuation of the calloso-marginal sulcus forwards to the crucial sulcus. (12) The coronoid process of the mandible is less lofty relatively and less backwardly produced. (13) The proportional length of the limbs to the body is shorter than even in Felis eyra. (J4) The muzzle is longer in proportion to the cranium. The genus Viverra also differs from the Felida in that (15) There is a distinct hallux with a claw. (16) There is an alisphenoid canal. 10* |