| OCR Text |
Show 1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 201 only a rudimentary metacarpal or metatarsal bone for either pollex or hallux. The genus Crocuta, instituted by Gray l for the Spotted Hyaena of South Africa, differs from the two species of true Hyaenas as to coloration, and in that its ears are not so elongated and are rounded instead of pointed. The hind legs are shorter than the fore limbs ; there is no dorsal mane; and there is but a single pair of anal glands, one on each side of the rectum, and a transverse band of follicles. The clitoris is enormous, and perforated by the urogenital canal2, as has been excellently described in our 'Proceedings' by Dr. Watson3. The cranium of Crocuta is like that of Hyana, but that the incipient division between the two parts of the auditory bulla is more rudimentary. As to the dentition4, - has a quite minute rounded crown. - has antero-external cusp much smaller than the two other external cusps ; - is very long, as is also p-^ ; p ^ has not two subequal tubercles side by side on its talon, there being the merest rudiment of the inner tubercle. ^ has no cusp inside the more posterior of its two large cusps ; and its talon is quite minute. The penis is large and pendulous, and boneless. The dorsal vertebrae are fifteen in number. The characters presented by the group of Hysenas-the subfamily Hyanina-are as follows :- (1) There is no pollex. (2) There is no hallux. (3) The ungual phalanges are not strongly arched. (4) The claws are but slightly arched, blunt, and not retractile. (5) The auditory bulla is inflated, and shows no external evidence of division. (6) The bulla is most prominent posteriorly, where it is not everted. (7) Only a rudiment of a bony septum. (8) The bony meatus auditorius is short; but its anterior lip is produced. (9) There is a carotid foramen not situated quite so far forward as in the Viverrida. (10) There is no alisphenoid canal. (11) The palatine foramina are situated on the anterior half of the palate. (12) - and p-2 are developed. (13) There is no ^-2 or - • 1 P. Z. S. 1868, p. 525. 2 It may be interesting to note that, in the ' Journal of Anatomy and Physiology,' vol. xiv. (1879), p. 95, there is recorded (in a paper on the homology of the sexual organs) the case of a woman formed in the same way as is the female Crocuta. s P. Z. S. 1878, p. 416. 4 Figured by De Blainville; Cuvier,Ossem. Foss. ii. pl. 190; Gervais, Mamm. P. 97. |
