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Show 1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 197 there is not so wide a lamina of bone to shelter the base of T ClaW SS in the Felid(B- (4) Ihe claws may be considerably arched, or they may be long and very slightly so. They are hardly ever (not except perhaps in Prionodon and Poiana) completely retractile, and often are not at all so. (5) The auditory bulla (except in Nandinia) is ossified, m u c h in- •rnfteCb a n d shows externally that it consists of two chambers. (6) The bulla is not 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 may or may not be one behind the other. (8) The bony meatus auditorius is almost always short, and may have its anterior, posterior, or inferior margin most projecting ; and it m a y be imperfectly ossified below. (9) There is a carotid foramen, or two carotid foramina, visible on each side of the basis cranii. (10) There is (except often in Viverricula) an alisphenoid canal. (11) The palatine foramina are situated in the anterior half of the palate. (12) -"- is generally and p-^ constantly developed. (13) There is always an M-^, and generally an -. O 4 ) -- is always present, generally large. (15) The antero-external cusp of - is generally very small. 0°) M~I nas almost always a considerable taloii. (17) The outer incisors may greatly exceed the middle ones in size. (18) The humerus sometimes wants the supracondyloid foramen. (19) The bone of the penis is small, save in Cryptoprocta. (20) The ears are not very long, erect, and pointed. (21) The tarsus and metatarsus are very often bald. (22) One plantar pad (small or large), and one beneath each digit. (23) Anus opening on the surface or in the middle of a saccular cutaneous invagination. (24) Anal glands from one to five pairs ; generally one pair. (25) Very often prescrotal scent-glands. (26) Caecum generally present and small or moderate, but occasionally absent. (27) N o very hard, horny, sharp-pointed, conical papillae on the dorsum of the tongue. (28) Hippocampal gyrus completely separated from that anterior internal portion of the superior lateral gyrus which is behind the crucial sulcus, by the continuation forwards of the calloso-marginal sulcus to join the crucial sulcus. (29) The coronoid process of the mandible is almost, if not quite, always less lofty relatively, and less backwardly produced than in the Felida. |