OCR Text |
Show 204 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, part of its margin prolonged, but is never imperfectly ossified below. (9) A carotid foramen is visible on the inner side of the bulla, but is placed more posteriorly than in the Viverrida. (10) There is no alisphenoid canal. (11) The palatine foramina are situated in the anterior half of the palate. (12) - and ^2 are developed. (13) There is never either - - or ^ . (14) - is absent or small. (15) Iii m a y abort; but if present, it has its anterior and posterior external cusps about equal and nearly approaching the median external cusp in size. (16) ^j has a large or small talon, or is absent. (17) The outer incisors generally exceed greatly the inner ones, and are caniniform. (18) The humerus wants the supracondyloid processes. (19) The penis is boneless. (20) The ears are long, erect, and generally pointed. (21) The tarsus and metatarsus are entirely hairy. (22) There is one small plantar pad with four small pads for the digits of the pes. (23) The anus opens into a sac. (24) The anal glands vary from one to three pairs. (25) There are no prescrotal scent-glands. (26) There is a moderate caecum. (27) The tongue is furnished with much-enlarged conical papillae on its dorsum ; but they are not placed as in the Felida. (28) The calloso-marginal sulcus joins the crucial sulcus. (29) The angle of the mandible is much flattened beneath. (30) Proportional length of the limbs larger than in the Viverrida. (31) Length of muzzle to cranium generally intermediate between the conditions presented by the Felida and the Viverrida. (32) Dentition extremely sectorial, and yet formed for crushing, or else altogether rudimentary. (33) Tail rather short, but not as in the Lynxes. (34) The clitoris may be traversed by the urogenital canal. (35) Dorsal vertebrae never less than fifteen. (36) Postorbital processes short and blunt or moderate ; but orbits never enclosed by bone. (37) Paroccipital processes generally depending, but not always. (38) Mastoid rather prominent. (39) N o carotid foramen in sphenoid. (40) Nose and upper lip medianly grooved. (41) Palate may or may not be much prolonged beyond the molars. (42) N o pterygoid fossa. (43) Size of species always large. |