| OCR Text |
Show 1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 461 developed in tbe Viverridce than in the Felida. Comparing the cervical vertebrae of the Civet with that of Felis catus, it may be remarked that while the plate-like transverse processes of the third vertebra are no larger (if not somewhat smaller) relatively in the Civet, those of the 4th, 5th, and 6th vertebrae are relatively larger; the neural laminae are more concave dorsally, and the hypapophyses are much stronger, and the hyperapophyses more marked. The Genet is more cat-like ; but, in the specimens examined, the distal ends of the plate-like transverse processes of the 4th, 5th, and 6th vertebrae project more preaxiad than in the Cat or Civet. Paradoxurus presents characters intermediate between those of the Cat and the Civet. Arctictis is very exceptional as to its cervical vertebrae, their transverse processes being so little extended antero-posteriorly, the plate-like parapophysial parts of each transverse process of even the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae being very little broader than the diapo-physial part. The distal ends of the transverse process of the vertebrae posterior to the third are not all produced preaxiad distaily; nevertheless the hypapophyses are more marked than in Felis catus. There is a distinct rib, with both capitulum and tuberculum, on the left side, and a less perfect rib on the other side, of the 7th cervical vertebra of the specimen of Arctictis, No. 1200 B, in the collection of the British Museum. Fig. 1. Seventh cervical vertebra of an Arctictis binturong, showing the perfect rib on the one side. Cryptoprocta differs remarkably from Arctictis in the greater antero-posterior extent of its plate-like transverse processes and in the preaxiad extension of the distal ends of those of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th vertebrae. There are marked hyperapophyses to the first two or three vertebrae. These processes, as also the cervical meta-pophyses, are very distinct on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th vertebrae of some Herpestes1. In Felis catus hyperapophyses are not only developed above each postzygapophysis of the axis, but these become more marked on the 3rd cervical vertebra, less on the 4th, 1 E.g. in no. 1178 A in the British Museum. |
