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Show 498 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [June 6, inner digits. In Hyana and Crocuta it only goes to the second, third, and fourth digits. The tibialis posticus is as in the Cat. The flexor longus digitorum and flexor hallucis of the Genet are like those of the Cat, save that a small tendon is sent to the hallux. There is no such tendon in the Hyanina. The flexor brevis digitorum is in the Genet as in the Cat, save that it is not divided into four bellies side by side, but is in one mass *. In Crocuta 2 it is confined to the sole of the foot, and is represented solely by a tendon, there being no muscular belly. In H. striata (according to Meckel) it is a prolongation of the tendon of the plantaris with additional muscular fibres from the fourth metatarsal. In the Civet it seems to be similar, except that the additional muscular fibres are derived from the os calcis. The accessorius of the Genet (and apparently of the Civet) is very unlike the muscle described by m e under this name in the Cat3. It arises from the outer side of the os calcis, and ends in a strong tendon which joins obliquely the tendon of the deep flexors previously noticed. In Crocuta it is very small and slender, with a similar origin and insertion. In the Genet, Civet, and Crocuta there are but three lumbricales, which take origin from the surface of the conjoined deep flexor tendons. Dr. Watson and Mr. Young remark4 of the Hyanina :-"The enormous development of the muscles of the neck and fore quarters, together with minor points already referred to, serve at once to associate " Crocuta with the other Hyaenas, and to separate them " from the remaining groups of the iEluroidea." Doubtless also, as these authors remark, the external form and skeleton of Proteles indicate that its muscular system does not differ materially from that common to Hyana and Crocuta. SPLANCHNOLOGY. Tongue. The tongue in the Felida is provided with circumvallate papilla disposed in two rows converging posteriorly, there being sometimes as many as six in each row. Behind these is a group of very large, soft, and pointed flattened papilla. Fungiform papilla are little conspicuous, but are scattered over the organ, especially at the sides of the anterior part. The conical papilla have, at the anterior fourth of the dorsal surface, that well-known hard and horny character which gives a rasp-like character to the tongue of even small Cats, while in the large species these papillae are like claws and are veritable spines. Comparing the tongue of the Civet5 with that of a feline animal6, ' See Cuvier's ' Planches,' pl. 128. fig. 4 v. 2 P. Z. S. 1879, p 104 " T h e Cat,'p. 161. * P. Z. S. 1879, p. 106. * A. g., the specimen No. 1513 D, Coll. of Surgeons. 6 E. g., that of the Caracal, No. 1513 c, Coll. of Surgeons. |