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Show 1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 189 uniformly horizontal; the anterior lip of the external auditory opening is more prominent; and the zygomata are much less arched outwards. ^ | are both relatively much larger. =*-^ is also large relatively, while a -- is developed; - has a larger internal tubercle ; ^-^ is also relatively larger. Dr. Jentink tells us that the teeth of concolor are quite like those of olivacea. It appears that it is a species of this genus which is the Vansire of Buffon (Hist. Nat. xiii. p. 167, pl. 21), as had it been Galidia the black-ringed tail would surely have been indicated. These three genera seem to me to form a section apart, somewhat intermediate between the Viverrine and the Herpestine sections, though (as before said) I regard them as more nearly allied to the latter than to the former. To the characters to be derived from digits, claws, skulls, teeth, colour, and habitat may be added that of tbe absence of an internal condyloid canal to the humerus. I propose then (as I before said) to separate this section as a subfamily under the name Galidictina. The characters of the Galidictina will be as follows :- (1) Claws not strongly curved and retractile, but yet sometimes more Viverrine than Herpestine. (2) Orbits never enclosed by bone. (3) Hinder chamber of auditory bulla rather crested. (4) Anterior and posterior margins of auditory opening about equally prominent, in the anterior one slightly more so. (5) Floor of anterior part of bulla not perforated, or fissured, but deeply pitted. (6) Angle of mandible not everted. (7) Mastoid prominent. (8) Paroccipital processes not depending. (9) Aperture of auditory meatus small and oval. (10) N o alisphenoid canal. (11) Carotid artery passing through a conspicuous foramen in the basis cranii. (12) N o prescrotal glands. (13) Anus opening on the surface of the body, and not into a cutaneous invagination (?) (14) One pair of anal glands. (15) N o supracondyloid foramen to humerus. (16) N o bony processes indicate the place of an alisphenoid canal. (17) Pollex and hallux both present. (18) Caecum present, moderately long. (19) Tarsus and metatarsus hairy or bald. A more anomalous form of the Viverrine family is that which has been taken to constitute the genus Eupleres by its describer Doyere1, who figured the animal and its (immature) skull. The immature skull has been also fully figured by De Blainville2, with the skeleton of the hind leg and foot and the milk-dentition. The 1 Ann. Sc. Nat. 1835, iv. p. 281, pl. 18. 3 Osteog., Viverras, pis. 8, 11, and 12. |
